RAWALPINDI, July 30: The returning officers on Saturday started the scrutiny of the nominations of candidates for the 175 union councils of the Rawalpindi district and 72 union council in Attock District. The scrutiny process would continue on Sunday.

Several objections were raised against the contesting candidates and most of them were settled. There were several objections concerning the educational qualifications of the candidates, with their opponents claiming that the documents submitted by them were fake. However, there were no major casualties at the end of the first day.

Appeals against acceptance and rejection of nomination papers would be filed on August 1, which would then be decided by August 3. Candidates would have the option of withdrawing from the contest till August 4, after which the ROs would publish the final lists and would allocate symbols to the candidates.

Polling would be held on Aug 25 Thursday. By the end of the first day of scrutiny four of the candidates on seats reserved for minorities had been elected unopposed from the Rawalpindi city.

Those elected unopposed were Johnson Joseph (UC-19), Yousuf Jan (UC-32), Shahbaz Bhatti (UC-20) and Rafiq Gill. Two of them are from Awam Dost Group, whereas the other two are from the group backed by ruling PML.

It is expected that quite a large number of minority candidates would be elected unopposed as only 148 candidates have filed their nominations for 175 seats. A number of minority seats would remain unfilled, it is being expected.Ends

Yaqoob Malik from Attock adds: The returning officers started scrutiny of nomination papers on Saturday which will continue till Sunday.

Earlier, 2,875 nomination papers were filed against 936 seats of 72 union councils of the district. According to the breakup of nominations issued by the office of the district returning officer, 306 papers were filed in UCs No 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 of Attock tehsil, including 30 joint nominations for the offices of nazim and naib nazim, 133 general seats, 33 for reserved seats for women, 59 for peasant/workers, 39 for peasant/workers, women and 12 for minorities.

In UCs 10-14, Attock tehsil 192 nominations were filed. Out of which 19 were filed jointly for the offices of nazim and naib nazim, 83 for general seats, 24 for reserved seats for women, 42 for peasant/workers, 17 for women workers and 7 for minorities.

Similarly, in UCs 15-18 of Hazro Tehsil 278 nominations were filed including 26 jointly for the offices of nazim and naib nazim, 122 for general seats, 26 for reserved seats for women, 68 for peasant/workers, 28 for peasant/workers, women, and two for minorities.

In UCs 19-25 of Hazro Tehsil 286 papers were filed out of which 25 for the offices of nazim and naib nazim, 126 for general seats, 36 for reserved seats for women, 69 for peasant/workers, 28 for peasant/workers, women, and two for minorities.

In UCs 26-33 of Tehsil Hassanabdal 329 nominations were filed. Out of which 29 were filed joint for the offices of nazim and naib nazim, 145 for general seats, 42 for women seats, 65 for peasant/workers, 37 for peasant/workers, women, and 11 for minorities.

In UCs 34, 35, 37, 38 and 45 to 47 of Fateh Jhang tehsil 266 p[papers were filed including 22 for the offices of nazim and naib nazim, 127 for general seats, 29 for reserved women seats, 56 for peasant/workers, 27 for peasant/workers, women, and five for minorities seats.

In UCs 39-44 of Fateh Jang Tehsil 224 nominations out of which 23 for the offices of nazim and naib nazim, 106 for general seats, 30 for reserved seats for women, 37 for peasant/workers, 25 for peasant/workers women and three for minorities were filed.

In UCs 48, 49 and 56 to 60 of Pindigheb Tehsil 244 papers were filed including 28 for the offices of nazim and naib nazim, 94 for general seats, 35 for women seats, 49 for peasant/workers, 30 for peasant/workers, women, and eight for minorities.

In UCs 50-55 of Pindigheb Tehsil 232 papers were filed. Of which 23 were filed for the offices of nazim and naib nazim, 102 for general seats, 29 for reserved seats for women, 47 for peasant/workers, 26 for peasant/workers, women, and five for minority.

In the UCs 61-72 of Jand Tehsil 518 nominations were filed. Out of which 53 were filed for the offices of nazim and naib nazim, 237 for general seats, 65 for reserved seats for women, 104 for peasant/workers, 56 for women peasant/workers and three for minorities.

Each union council comprises 13 members, including four general seats, two women, two peasants/workers, two women peasants/workers, one minority, one nazim and one naib nazim.

The final list of candidates along with symbols would be issued on August 5, while polling will be held on August 25 and results will be notified on August 27.