HYDERABAD, March 3: As many as 328 seats of union council Nazims, Naib Nazims and councillors are lying vacant in four districts of defunct Hyderabad division for which by-elections will be held on March 28.

Out of 102 UCs of Hyderabad district, bye-elections will be held for 123 vacant seats of Nazims, Naib Nazims and councillors in 66 UCs. According to break-up, the by-elections will be held on six vacant seats of Nazims, one of Naib Nazim, 18 of general councillors, 24 of women councillors, 12 of peasants/workers, 46 of women peasants/workers and 16 of minorities.

A Naib Nazim seat is vacant in UC-9 of Hyderabad district where a no-confidence motion against Shahabuddin Munshi had been adopted by the UC. He has, however, challenged the no-confidence motion in the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, where the case is pending..

Six seats of the Nazims had fallen vacant after Dr Irfan Gul Magsi, former Nazim, Chambar-UC-1, became a provincial minister after his election as an MPA. Nazim, UC-14, Tando Allahyar, Ali Mohammad Walhari, had resigned to contest election for a Sindh Assembly seat, which he had lost.

Dr Najeeb Memon, Nazim, UC-2, Qasimabad, vacated the seat as he contested elections for an MPA seat and lost. Nazim, UC-4, Piaro Lund, Moula Bux Mastoi, Nazim, UC-6, Oderolal, Allah Dad Khoso and another Nazim from a rural area have died.

In 80 UCs of Dadu district, by-elections will be held in 62 union councils for 113 vacant seats, including two seats of Nazims, four of Naib Nazims, 14 of general councillors, 20 of women, 11 of peasants/workers, 24 of women peasants/workers and 38 of minorities.

Polls will be held in 32 union councils of Thatta district for 57 vacant seats. They included three seats of Nazims, two of Naib Nazims, eight of general councillors, 16 of women, three of peasants/workers, 11 of women peasants/workers and 14 of minorities.

In Badin district, by-elections will be held in 21 UCs for 35 vacant seats. The seats include two of Nazims, one of Naib Nazim, eight of general councillors, six of women, two of peasants/workers, 13 of women peasant/worker and three of minorities. Last date for the submission of candidature is March 5.