GILGIT, Sept 11: The Election Commission of Northern Areas on Saturday said that 197 candidates were declared eligible to contest upcoming elections of Northern Areas Legislative Council in all 24 constituencies while nomination papers of nine candidates have been rejected by the returning officers on technical grounds.

Talking to APP, Election Commissioner of Northern Areas Mohammad Ghazi Khan said according to information provided by District Election Commissioners of five districts a total number of 206 candidates had filed their papers.

He disclosed that in District Gilgit nomination papers of Sheryar Hassan was declared ineligible to contest election.

In Skardu District, he continued, nomination papers of an independent candidate Mohammad Amin was rejected by the returning officer.

He said in Diamer district the nomination papers of all candidates were found correct and had been allowed to contest the elections.

Mohammad Ghazi Khan said that in Ghizer district two candidates Syed Jalal-ud-Din and Syed Madal Shah were turned down on technical ground.

In Ghanche district, the nomination papers of two PML candidates Walayat Ali and Mohammad Shafiq, three independent candidates Qasim Hussain, Sher Ali Khan, and Ali Mardan were rejected.

He said the nomination papers of nine candidates were rejected out of 206 and now 197 candidates were left to contest the elections for 24 seats of Northern Areas Legislative Council.

The appeals against the rejections of nomination papers would be filed on September 13 while decision on appeals will be made public on September 15.-APP