GUJRANWALA, Aug 1: A number of well-educated people are in run for the coming local elections. Of the 552 candidates for 188 union councils, 21 are lawyers, seven doctors, two retired army officers, 18 senior science teachers and four journalists. Besides, 61 aspirants are MA, 21 MSc and 268 graduates.

It may be mentioned that 168 former nazims are contesting the election in the district, 13 of them for the naib nazim seat with the backing of the ARD. Around 1,628 polling stations have been set up for 188 union councils in the district, while 923 of them are declared sensitive.

According to reports, district returning officer Mazhar Husain Minhas has asked the police to present the list of those people who had created chaos in the last elections. Police sources said that 371 people were booked on the charge of opening fire during the previous polls. To maintain law and order, the arrest of such people few days before the election could not be ruled out.

300 booked: Over 300 aspirants for the seats of nazim, naib nazim and general councillors in union councils, including candidates backed by the ruling PML, were booked for violation of election code of conduct here on Monday.

According to reports, the district police registered cases against 60 aspirants of nazim seat while half of them belonged to the ruling party. They were charged with wall chalking and displaying banners. DIG Zafer Abbas Lak said that anyone involved in violation of rules and regulations would be taken to task irrespective of his/her affiliation with the ruling party.