NAWABSHAH, Sept 13: The Election Commission of Pakistan has failed to announce schedule for district nazim’s office despite passage of more than 120 days, the maximum period allowed for holding fresh elections to a vacant seat under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO 2001).

The district nazim’s seat fell vacant after Ms Faryal Talpur, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, resigned from the office on May 4 to contest election for NA-207, which she won unopposed.

District Naib Nazim Abdul Haq Jamali automatically took charge of the district till fresh elections were to be held to the post within 120 days but no schedule has so far been announced by the central or provincial election commission despite a lapse of 131 days as of Saturday.

According to section 150 of SLGO, the local government elections would be held by the chief election commissioner in pursuance of the Local Government Elections Order 2000.

Section 22 of the ordinance says: “In case the office of Zila Nazim falls vacant for reason of his or her death, resignation, removal or, where in the opinion of the Zila Council, he or she has become incapable to perform his functions on account of mental or physical incapacity, the Naib Zila Nazim shall act as Zila Nazim till an officiating Nazim is elected under sub-section (6) of section 156 or a new Zila Nazim is elected.”

According to section 156, if a seat of a member falls vacant during the term of office of a council, a new member shall be elected through by-election and the member elected in by-election shall hold office for the remaining portion of the term of the Council.

A vacancy of district nazim, taluka nazim or town nazim, as the case may be, shall be filled through by-election within one hundred and twenty days of the occurrence of vacancy as provided in sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 148.

Nawabshah has always remained a stronghold of Pakistan People’s Party where Ms Faryal Talpur of PPP’s Awam Dost Panel had twice been elected to the district nazim’s seat during PML-Q-led government.