KARACHI, Sept 18: Nine appeals were filed against rejection and acceptance of nomination papers of candidates for reserved seats in various categories, including three town Nazims, in Karachi district on Sunday. According to the election schedule for the third phase of local government election, Sept 18 was the last date for filing appeals against rejection and acceptance of nomination papers of candidates vying for the office of City Nazim, District/Town/Tehsil Nazim, and reserved seats of women, peasants/workers and minorities.

These appeals would be disposed of by Sept 20 while candidates could withdraw their papers by Sept 21.

Sources close to the returning officer told Dawn that one appeal has been filed against acceptance of nomination papers of Tariq Hasan on a reserved seat of peasant/worker. The petitioner had challenged that a businessman could not contest on the seat reserved for peasant/worker.

Likewise, two appeals were made by women candidates against rejection of their nomination papers for the membership of city council while out of four papers of Town Nazims, which were rejected on technical grounds, three candidates had filed appeals.

Three more candidates whose papers were rejected from reserved seats in Towns have filed appeals. They include two candidates for reserved seats of peasants/workers while one candidate is an aspirant for the reserved seat of minority.