ISLAMABAD, March 5: The Election Commission on Friday extended the last date for 10 days to file nomination papers for local government bye-elections to fill seats of members, nazims and naib union nazims in the union councils in Quetta district.

Chief Election Commissioner, Justice (R) Irshad Hasan Khan, announced that last date for holding local government by- election has been extended keeping in view the law and order situation and imposition of curfew in Quetta.

The candidate can now file nomination papers with the returning officers from March 15 and 16. According to the revised schedule, notice of all the nomination papers will be published on March 17 while objections on the nomination papers by the voters will be received up to March 18.

The scrutiny of nomination papers and publication of names of validity of nominated candidates will be carried out on March 19 and 20, the Election Commission announced.

The appeals against acceptance/and rejection of nomination papers to be filed from March 22 to 24. Disposal of appeals by the Appellate Authority will be on March 25.

The withdrawal of candidature on March 26 and publication of lists of contesting candidates with symbols allotted to them on March 27. The polling will be held on April 7 while results of the election will be declared by the returning officer on April 10.

The candidates, who filed their nomination papers during the period from March 3 to 5 can utilize their nomination papers for the bye-elections. -APP