HYDERABAD, Oct 15: By-election for the seven vacant seats of Nazims and Naib Nazims in the districts of Hyderabad, Dadu, Thatta, and Badin will be held on Tuesday.

Eight candidates of Nazims and Naib Nazims have already returned unopposed, according to unofficial results.

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Sept 21 had announced the schedule of by-elections for the vacant seats of Nazims and Naib Nazims of various unions of Sindh province.

In Hyderabad district, the seats of Naib Nazim UC-18 of Hyderabad city; Nazim UC-2 Masu Bhurgari of Hyderabad Taluka; Nazim UC-1 Jhando Mari Tando Allahyar taluka; Nazim UC-8 Pak Singhar Tando Allahyar taluka, and Nazim UC-10 Allah Yar Turk Tando Mohammad Khan Taluka had fallen vacant for various reasons.

Similarly, in Dadu district, the seats of Nazim UC-6 Nauon Goth, Mehar; Nazim UC-11 Pehri and Nazim UC-5 Pat (rural), in Badin district seats of Nazim UC-4 Lowari Sharif; Nazim UC-2 Dando Talhar and Nazim UC-6 Pangrio, Tando Bago, and in Thatta district the seats of Nazim UC-2 Kar Malik, Jati, and Nazim UC-5 Begna, Jati, were lying vacant.

Following the announcement of the results, various candidates filed their candidatures.

The candidates whose forms were rejected moved the appellate tribunal and the Sindh High Court for restoration of their nomination forms. Now as per fresh information the by-elections would be held on seven seats in Hyderabad, Dadu, Badin, and Thatta districts.

These seats included Naib Nazim of UC-18 of Hyderabad city (City Taluka) and Nazim Union Council Jhando Mari (Tando Allahyar Taluka) in Hyderabad district; Nazim of Union Council Pangrio and Nazim of Union Council Dando in Badin district; and Nazims of Union Council Nauon Goth, Shah Panjo and Pipri in Dadu District.

The candidates who have, according to unofficial results, returned unopposed included Azizullah Memon, the Nazim Union Council Pak Singhar in Tando Allahyar Taluka, Syed Faisal Hussain Shah as Nazim Union Council-2 Masu Bhurgari in Tando Hyderabad Taluka, Nazeer Jamal Jalalani as Nazim Union Council-10, A Yar Turk in Tando Mohammad Khan Taluka in Hyderabad District.

In Badin district, Nazeer Ahmed Halepota has been elected unopposed as Nazim Union Council-10 Halepota of Matli Taluka. In Thatta, Ghulam Mustafa Malkani and M Qasim Samejo were elected unopposed as Nazims of Union Council-2 Kar Malik and Union Council Begna respectively.

In Dadu District, Abdul Ghani Ansari has returned unopposed as Nazim Union Council-5 Pat (rural).

There was one-to-one fight on some of the seats on which by-elections would be held on Tuesday.

In Jhando Mari, Mir Mansoor Ali Khan Talpur was up against Syed Fazal Hussain Shah; Ali Nawaz Sahir was contesting against Aijaz Hussain Anwar for Nazim UC Shah Panjo in Dadu District. Abdul Jabbar Memon was fighting against Ghulam Mujtaba Bhand for Nazim UC Pipri, Dadu District.

There were three candidates for the posts of Naib Nazim UC-18 of Hyderabad city. This seat fell vacant following elections of Haji Moinuddin Sheikh as Taluka Nazim of Hyderabad.

An interesting fight was expected between M Yunus Qureshi, Yaqoob Qureshi, and Abdul Lateef Qureshi on this slot. Four candidates were contesting for the post of Nazim UC Pangrio, UC Dando in Badin District, and UC Nauon Goth, Dadu District.

For Hyderabad city’s one seat, 14 polling stations had been set up. Eleven, 14, 12, 9, 12 and 9 polling stations were respectively established for the seats of Jhando Mari (Tando Allahyar), Pangrio (Badin), Dando (Badin), Nauon Goth, Shah Panjo, and Pipri (Dadu).