QUETTA, July 30: In the second phase of the local council polls in 14 districts of Balochistan 459 candidates including nazims and naib nazims of 37 union councils have been elected unopposed. In Dera Bugti district alone 111 candidates including nazim and naib nazims and women were elected unopposed.

Sources said that the unopposed elected candidates included 84 general seats, 79 women seats, 66 peasant and workers seats, 84 women peasant and labour seats, 62 minorities and 84 nazims and naib nazims.

The Balochistan Election Commission said that 10,276 candidates have filed nomination papers for 3,770 seats of 290 union councils including 580 seats of nazims and naib nazims in the second phase of the local council elections. The sources said that 1,049 candidates would contest election on 580 seats of nazim and naib nazims in all 14 districts of the province.

For men general seats 4,027 candidates filed their nomination papers, 1,448 for women’s general seats, 2,186 for peasant/workers seats, 1,286 for peasant/ workers (women) and 280 for minority community.

The Quetta district having 67 union councils was leading in all the 14 districts in filing of nomination papers because 2,919 candidates have filed their papers for 871 seats of 67 union councils include 276 candidates for 134 seats of nazim and naib nazims.

Dera Bugti district has the lowest number of candidates, where only 135 filed their nomination papers for 156 seats of 12 union councils. In Qila Abdullah 886 candidates filed their nomination papers for 25 union councils, in Chagai 473 for 10 union councils, Zhob 828 for 28 union councils, Loralai 920 for 20 union councils, Musakhel 568 for 10 union councils, Jhal Magsi 172 for 9 union councils, Washuk 336 for 7 union councils, Kalat 616 for 18 union councils, Lasbela 859 for 22 union councils, Kech (Turbat) 859 for 38 union councils and Panjgur 583 for 16 union councils.