Local govts: ECP announces schedule of election for reserved seats

Elections in district councils, municipal corporations to be held on Feb 8

LAHORE:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Monday the schedule for election to reserved seats in union councils, district councils, municipal committees, municipal corporations and the Lahore metropolitan corporation.

Polling for seats reserved at district councils, municipal corporations and the Lahore metropolitan corporation will be held on February 8; in municipal committees on February 11; and at union council level on February 14.

The ECP will issue a public notice of returning officers on Tuesday (today). Nomination papers will be filed with the returning officers between January 20 and 21. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be completed on January 22 and 23. Last date for filing of appeals against decisions of the returning officers for rejecting or accepting nominations is January 25. The final date for withdrawal of candidature is January 28. The revised list of candidates along with the election symbols will be issued on January 28.

The notification states that the offices of the ECP as well as the offices of the district returning officers and returning officers will remain open on all public holidays during the scheduled period. “All electoral activities mentioned in the schedule will be undertaken during office hours. The timing will also be followed on public holidays fixed for any electoral activity of the schedule,” the notification states.

According to the ECP data, there are 18,567 seats reserved across the Punjab, including 9,286 seats for women, 4,435 for workers/peasants, 4,245 for youth, 427 for technocrats and 4,189 for non-Muslims. There are 492 seats reserved for women at district council level, 107 at metropolitan/municipal corporation level, 657 in municipal committees and 8,030 at union council levels.

The local governments have 164 worker/peasant members at district council level across the Punjab. There are 41 workers/peasant seats at metropolitan/municipal corporations, 215 in municipal committees and 4,015 in union councils. In addition, there are 35 seats reserved for the youth at district council level, 13 in metropolitan/municipal corporations, 182 in municipal committees and 4,015 in union councils.

On seats reserved for technocrats, there are 164 members to be elected in district councils, 41 in metropolitan/municipal corporations and 222 in municipal committees. There are 143 seats reserved for non-Muslim citizens at district councils, 31 in metropolitan/municipal corporations and 4,015 at union council level.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2016.