Local body polls: 786 candidates elected unopposed in Balochistan

Elections for 613 seats are scheduled on Dec 31, in which 1,482 candidates are participating

QUETTA: At least 786 candidates, out of 1,486 reserved seats for peasants and workers were elected unopposed during the second phase of local bodies elections in the province. The last phase of elections are due to be held at the end of January 2015.

“As many as 378 peasants and 390 workers have been elected unopposed, among the candidates who had not submitted nomination papers on the 105 seats were 50 peasants and 55 workers,” Balochistan Election Commissioner Sultan Bayazid told The Express Tribune.

The first phase of the election was held on December 7, 2013. However, due to the amended law in the LB polls, the process had been delayed.

He added that elections for 613 seats are scheduled to be held on December 31, in which 1,482 candidates, 315 peasants and 298 workers are participating.

“All the preparations have been completed. The last phase of the elections, election of chairman deputy chairman and mayor of Quetta would take place at the end of January.”

105 seats vacant

Bayazid said that 105 seats were vacant in Panjgur, Turbat and Awaran districts.

“The candidates have not submitted nomination papers in troubled Panjgur, Turbat and Awaran districts.”

Completing the second phase would make Balochistan the first province to have a fully functional local government (LG) system since the last one which expired in 2009.