NAWABSHAH, Oct 23: Elections for the post of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto district nazim have not been held yet though the seat has been lying vacant for around 170 days and the relevant law envisages election for the seat within 120 days of its falling vacant.

The district nazim’s seat fell vacant after Ms Faryal Talpur, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, resigned from the office in May to contest election for the National Assembly seat of NA-207.

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

A vacancy of district nazim, taluka nazim or town nazim … shall be filled through by-election within 120 days of the occurrence of vacancy as provided in sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 148.

When contacted, Election Commission Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said that the schedule for elections on vacant seats of local bodies had not been finalised yet. He said that the commission had sought a report about law and order situation from the provinces and was waiting for completion of electoral college after which a schedule would be announced.

Meanwhile, Ms Faryal told this correspondent that she had recommended to the party high ups the name of Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, the president of Nawabshah taluka PPP and general secretary of the district bar association, for the top district slot.

JEWELLERS PROTEST: Jewellers closed their shops and took out a rally here on Wednesday to protest against the looting of a jeweller’s shop.

The rally started from Sarafa market and terminated at press club. Protesters were carrying placards and raising slogans against increase in crime incidents.

President Sarafa Association Haji Aslam Shaikh and others said that three unidentified robbers looted 10 tola gold and cash from the shop of Aijaz Ahmed Khokhar and escaped. They said that as many as 10 such incidents had taken place in Sarafa market during a short span of time.