LAHORE, Aug 23: In an effort to maintain peace during Thursday’s second phase of local body elections, police have obliged each panel of nazim and naib nazim to furnish surety bonds before the respective area magistrates.

Sources said the candidates had been summoned by the concerned station house officers and had been told to furnish a surety bond ranging from Rs200,000 to Rs1 million, depending on the nature of the area and its sensitivity.

This step has been taken by the government for the first time in history.

The magistrates, while accepting surety bonds, made it clear to nazim and naib nazim candidates that they would be held responsible if any incident took place in their union councils during the polling. They said that candidates will face legal action, including registration of criminal cases and disqualification.