PESHAWAR, Sept 24: The Election Commission will hold bye- elections on Oct 21 for the vacant seats of Nazims and Naib Nazims in 37 union councils of 18 districts of the NWFP.

The Returning Officers had started inviting nomination papers on Monday and the process would continue until Sept 26.

According to an EC notification, the scrutiny of the papers and the publication of the names of the candidates will take place between Oct 1 and 5. Appeals against the acceptance and rejection of nomination papers will be entertained before Oct 7.

Thirty-one seats of Union Nazmeen and 7 seats of Naib Nazmeen are vacant in the NWFP.

“Most of the seats are lying vacant because of the death or the resignation of the Nazmeen or Naib Nazmeen,” Provincial Election Commissioner, Mohammad Altaf Khan, told Dawn.

The Nazim of Pishtakhara Union Council, Fayyaz Khalil, was shot dead during a protest against the Pesco authorities. The Nazim of Khazana, Arbab Humayun, was also killed inside a city court by his rival group some weeks ago. Some Nazmeen have resigned, because they are contesting the elections.

The names of the union councils where bye-election will be held are: Kakshal-I, Chamkani, Pishtakhara Payan and Khazana in Peshawar; Manki Sharif and Chowki Town in Nowshera; Matta Mughal Khel and Rashaki of Charsadda; Gani Chatra and Asota of Swabi, Khan Bari of Hangu; Seer Gharbi, Nambli Mairs and Kehal Urban of Abbottabad; Khalabat Township, Pandak and Khanpur of Haripur; Mansehra City No.I, Nikka Pani and Sher Gharh of Mansehra; Banna, Thakot, Trand of Battagram: Ranwal of Tank; Mira Khel of Bannu; Mansha Mansoor and Ahmed Khel of Lakki Marwat; Shah Dherai, Damorai, Chowgah, Bingalai and Dandai of Shangla; Shahi Kot of Upper Dir; Kotkai and Bandagai of Lower Dir; Lothkoh of Chitral; Ghari Usmani Khel of Malakand Protected Area.

The people of these union councils have been demanding of the government to hold elections forthwith as their areas have yet to received money for development schemes.

The women’s seats in various districts were not filled through elections. The political parties, Ulema and elders in various union councils of Dir, Mardan and Swabi had signed an agreement that they would not allow their women to poll votes.

Neither the election commission, nor the government, had taken any action against the councillors who had stopped women from voting.