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ISLAMABAD: Polling for the second phase of local government (LG) elections in Punjab and Sindh will take place on Nov 19, according to a schedule announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday.
Chairmen, vice chairmen and members of union councils and wards in 12 districts of Punjab and 15 in Sindh will be elected during this phase.
The districts of Punjab where LG elections are to be held are: Khanewal, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Attock and Jhelum.
The districts of Sindh are: Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Tando Mohammad Khan, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushehro Feroze, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar.
Returning officers will issue notices on Sept 9 inviting nominations papers to be submitted from Sept 13 to 17. Scrutiny of papers will be held from Sept 26 to Oct 1.
Oct 6 has been set as the last date for filing appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers and election tribunals will decide the appeals by Oct 12.
October 13 will be the last date for candidates to withdraw their nomination and final list of candidates will be published the following day.
The schedule for the first of the three phases of LG elections had been earlier announced by the ECP. According to it, polling will take place on Oct 31 in eight districts of Sindh and 12 districts of Punjab.
The schedule for the third and final phase will be announced on Sept 21 and polling will be held on Dec 3. The final round will cover 12 districts in Punjab and six in Sindh -- Layyah, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Jhang, Khushab, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Narowal, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan and the six districts of Karachi division.
An official told Dawn that the updated local government act and rules of Sindh had been received by the ECP before expiry of the 48-hour deadline given to the provincial chief secretary and now there was no threat of the process getting stalled.
Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2015
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