LAHORE: Apparently in a bid to check use of influence of local bodies in the July 25 vote, returning officers across Punjab have been directed to demand resignations from office-holders of local governments aspiring to contest the general election before they submit their nomination papers.

Punjab Election Commissioner Zafar Iqbal Hussain on Monday directed the returning officers that respective resignations of the local governments’ office-holders contesting the general election must be attached with their candidatures otherwise the papers must not be accepted.

Meanwhile, issuance of nomination papers from returning officers has begun here like other parts of the country.

Orange Line Metro Train steering committee ex-chief Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan, opposition leader in now defunct Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rashid, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Sheikh Rohail Asghar and Siddiq Bhatti were among around 100 people who obtained nomination papers on the first day.

The issuance of papers will continue till June 8 as per the election schedule.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2018