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LAHORE, Aug 19: As many as 1,451 candidates contesting on reserved seats for Muslims, peasants, workers and the minorities, including 66 nazims and naib nazims, have returned unopposed in the second phase of the local polls being held in 1,810 union councils of 18 districts on Aug 25.
The figures have been based on the data compiled by APP on the basis of information gathered from the provincial election commission here on Friday.
Not even a single candidate has returned unopposed as nazim and naib nazim in Lahore, Mandi Bahauddin, Mianwali and Chakwal districts. The same situation prevails in other districts where again not even a single candidate is elected unopposed against the seats of Muslims (general) except four uncontested candidates each in Faisalabad, Gujrat and Jhang districts and eight in Nankana district.
The seats for Muslims (general) will be contested by 30,041 candidates.
In Faisalabad, 271 candidates have been elected unopposed in the second phase of the local polls which is the highest in terms of the number of candidates in the 18 districts. Jhang and Gujrat districts stand second and third where 153 and 139 candidates returned uncontested, respectively.
In Gujrat, 12 nazims and naib nazims have been elected unopposed which is the highest number, while Faisalabad stands second where 11 nazims and naib nazims remained uncontested. Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Jhang share equally in the number of candidates elected unopposed where eight nazims and naib nazims have already been returned in each district.
The local elections will be held in 1,810 union councils in the following 18 districts, and the figure mentioned in brackets in each district indicates the number of candidates returned unopposed.
Okara (89), Kasur (45), Nankana Sahib (101) Sheikhupura (95), Lahore (13), Narowal (65), Mandi Bahauddin (75), Gujrat (139), Hafizabad (29), Toba Tek Singh (50), Jhang (153), Faisalabad (271), Bhakkar (44), Mianwali,(29), Jhelum (51), Chakwal (27), Attock (55) and Ralwapindi (120).
During the first phase of the local elections held on Aug 18, in all 1,554 candidates were elected unopposed in 17 district.
WITHDRAW PAPERS: As many as 6,007 candidates out of a total of 66,396 have withdrawn their candidatures for the second phase of the local polls.
According to the data compiled on the basis of information provided by the provincial election commission, 955 candidates for nazim and naib nazim, 3,222 for Muslim (general) seats, 310 for Muslim (women) seats, 1,100 for peasant/workers, 217 for peasant/workers (women) and 147 for minority seats have withdrawn their candidatures from respective returning officers in all 18 districts.
In Rawalpindi district, 773 candidates have withdrawn their candidatures from 175 union councils which is the highest number of withdrawals in the province.
Faisalabad and Chakwal districts stood second and third in terms of withdrawal where 519 and 509 candidates withdrew their candidatures from 289 and 68 union councils, respectively.
The local polls will be held in the following districts and the figure mentioned against each district will indicate the number of withdrawal of candidatures:
Okara, (315), Kasur,(357), Nankana Sahib (120), Sheikhupura (148), Lahore (396), Narowal (202), Mandi Bahauddin (183), Gujrat (482), Hafizabad (140), Toba Tek Singh (205), Jhang (360), Faisalabad (541), Bhakkar (316), Mianwali (254), Jhelum (187), Chakwal (519), Attock (509) and Ralwapindi (773).
It may be mentioned that in the first phase, as many as 6,472 candidatures were withdrawn in 17 district.
