TAXILA: As many as 118 candidates have filed nomination papers for 36 reserved seats in the local government of Taxila and Attock.

For the eight reserved seats in the municipal committee of Taxila, 21 candidates, including eight women, are in the field.

The election for the seats is scheduled to be held on February 11. For the labour seat, there are three aspirants whose nomination papers have been accepted, seven candidates are vying for the youth seat and eight for the women seats. For the minorities reserved seat, three candidates have filed their papers.

As many as 29 candidates had filed papers for the reserved seats out of whom the nominations of eight, including those belonging to the PML-N and PTI, were rejected by the returning officer, Shahid Imran.

Meanwhile, in the district council, four candidates, including two women, belonging to the independent group from Union Council Garri Skiandar, were elected unopposed. Two of the women were elected on women seats, one on peasant and one on youth reserved seat.

In Hassanabdal, 14 aspirants have filed nominations for the four reserved seats.

Meanwhile in Attock, 97 candidates have filed nomination papers for the 28 reserved seats of the District Council and 14 seats of the municipal committee.

In the District Council, 27 candidates have filed nominations for 15 seats reserved for women, 11 candidates have submitted papers for four seats of technocrats, six for a single seat of youth, 16 for four seats of peasant workers while eight candidates are in the run for the four non-Muslim seats.

Similarly, for seven reserved seats in MC Attock and Hazro, 29 candidates have filed papers.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2016