GILGIT, Sept 22: A total of 69 candidates from all the five districts of the Northern Areas have withdrawn their nomination papers for the forthcoming Northern Areas Legislative Council elections scheduled for Oct 12 and 13.

NA Election Commissioner Mohammad Ghazi Khan told reporters on Wednesday that 128 candidates had been left in the run for 24 NALC seats. The papers of nine candidates had already been rejected in scrutiny, he added.

He said the elections would be held on a party basis for which candidates from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, PPP-Patriot, PPP-Parliamentarians, PML-N, Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam as well as independent Balawaristan National Front and Karakoram National Movement had fielded their candidates. The election commissioner said a candidate, Wazir Fida, returned as unopposed on Wednesday.

MANPOWER SHORTAGE: The NA Election Commission, which would conduct, monitor and coordinate the forthcoming elections, is paralyzed due to a lack of staff and infrastructural facilities.

A visit to the office of the election commissioner showed that there was an outdated telephone set, a small vehicle, one computer, and a few chairs. There was also a shortage of manpower.

According to a candidate, the working of the office needs improvement. Other candidates told reporters that important and urgent files were lying unattended with the home department.