Local bodies’ by-polls schedule due shortly

Elections on reserved seats, balloting for mayor, deputy mayor to follow

KARACHI:

The schedule for the byelection for local bodies' seats would likely be released across Sindh in the next few days.

Following the by-polls, elections would be held on the reserved seats for women, workers or farmers, youth, minorities, specially-able persons and transgender persons.

After that, the mayor, deputy mayor and the chairman and vice chairman would be elected.

Due to the delay in holding the second phase of local body elections in Sindh, the by-elections were not held in the districts of Mirpur Khas, Sukkur, Larkana and Benazirabad divisions and the elections were not held on reserved seats.

After the by-elections, now the entire local government structure will be brought into existence across Sindh.

By-elections would be held for members in 15 wards and six seats of UC chairman and vice chairman, member district council in Jacobabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Khairpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, Shaheed Benazirabad, Nowshahrofiroz and Sanghar.

As per election commission officials, eight seats were vacated due to the nonsubmission of nomination papers by any candidate, seven seats fell vacant due to death of contestants and other seats due to death of successful candidates.

Re-polling would be held on a total of 85 polling stations of various constituencies in districts of Sindh included in the first phase.

Polling in these constituencies was postponed due to law and order on the day of polling, wrong symbols of candidates being printed on the ballot papers and other reasons.

Elections could not be held on 11 seats of UC chairman, vice chairman and 14 seats of ward councilors in Karachi due to the death of candidates.

In Hyderabad Division, polling would be held for 41 seats of member district council, UC chairman, vice chairman, and ward councilor.