QUETTA, Nov 6: Thousands of independent candidates and those belonging to political parties began to acquire on Wednesday nomination papers for contesting the upcoming local bodies’ elections in Balochistan.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the local bodies’ elections would be held on Dec 7 on party basis in the province.

As per the schedule announced by the ECP, the candidates may file their filled-in nomination papers till Nov 8.

The National Party, which leads the ruling coalition in the province, has said it will take part in the electoral process. However, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F want postponement of elections till at least March. They say the elections should be held after completion of new delimitation and improving the law and order situation obtaining in the province.

The PML-N even filed a petition in the Supreme Court for postponement of elections. However, the court rejected the plea and ordered holding of the elections on Dec 7.

After rejection of the petition, the PML-N and other parties have decided to take part in the elections.

However, the Jamhoori Watan Party headed by Nawabzada Talal Akbar Bugti has announced that it will boycott the elections.

A statement issued by the party’s central secretariat said that in view of “election rigging in the May general elections” taking part in the elections would be an unwise decision.