FAISALABAD, Feb 12: As many as 511 seats - 47 of Nazims, Naib Nazims and 464 of councillors - of union councils have been lying vacant in the districts of Faisalabad , Toba Tek Singh and Jhang for the last one and a half years.

Under the Local Government Ordinance, 2001, a union council Nazim and Naib Nazim have vast powers being the head of the setup. They are responsible for provision of facilities like sanitation, registration of birth, death and marriages, grant of approval for Citizens Community Boards, eradication of adulteration, suggest development plans and monitor their execution, establishment and maintenance of libraries, holding exhibitions and cultural activities, settlement of disputes among people, preparation of daily crime diary, formulation of reconciliation committees, etc. In their absence, all the activities come to a halt.

Astonishingly, the ordinance is silent about the affairs of a union council in their absence. However, councillors delegated the powers of a Nazim and Naib Nazim to a councillor of their choice.

It is sad to note that the provincial local government authorities are playing the role of a silent spectator. They never bothered to take stock of such a sorry state of affairs and did not take any step for ensuring smooth functioning of union councils.

Meanwhile, an Election Commission source said 242 seats of councillors and Nazims were lying vacant in Faisalabad, 210 in Jhang and 59 in Toba Tek Singh due to various reasons, including resignations for contesting general election.

He said in 156 of 289 union councils in Faisalabad, 22 seats of Nazims, five of Naib Nazims, 33 of general councillors, 78 of women councillors, 18 of labour councillors, 53 of women labour councillors and 33 of minority councillors were lying vacant.

Similarly, of 128 union councils in Jhang, 11 seats of Nazims are lying vacant, two of Naib Nazims, 19 of general councillors, 25 of women councillors, 10 of labour councillors, 29 of women labour councillors and 114 of minority councillors.

In 38 union councils in Toba Tek Singh, six posts of Nazims, one of Naib Nazim, 10 of general councillors, 15 of women councillors, three of labour councillors, 13 of women labour councillors and 11 of minority councillors are to be filled. The source said schedule for by-election to the vacant seats would be announced within a couple of weeks and polling would be held on March 28.