QUETTA: The candidates have started to receive nomination forms from the provincial Election Commission office here to contest local bodies’ elections to be held in Balochistan in the month of December.

Provincial Election Commissioner Balochistan Syed Sultan Bayazeed said on Wednesday candidates have been visiting the EC Balochistan office and getting nomination forms.

“Following the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Election Commission has finalised preparations for conducting local bodies’ elections in Balochistan and issuance of nomination forms for 7,189 seats has been started,” he said.

He said the candidates could submit their nomination papers on Nov 7 and 8 and warned that action would be taken against the polling staff if they were found to be giving favours to candidates.

The provincial election commissioner said white ballot papers would be printed for Union Council elections and green for District Council polls.

According to the poll schedule announced by ECP for Balochistan, objections to nomination papers will be received till Nov 9. The scrutiny of papers will be held on Nov 10 and 11 and appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers may be filed from Nov 12 to 16.

The appeals will be disposed of on Nov 17 and 18. The date for withdrawing nomination papers will be Nov 19 and the final list of candidates will be published the same day.

The polling will take place on Dec 7.