707 candidates elected unopposed in eight districts of Sindh

The LG elections for these constituencies are scheduled for October 31

KARACHI: In the first phase of the local government elections scheduled to start on October 31 in eight districts of upper Sindh, around 707 candidates have returned unopposed. “The total number of candidates contesting the elections stands at 10,087. Now, 9380 candidates will contest the direct and indirect elections,” said an official of the provincial election commission.

According to the Sindh election commission, there are 950 constituencies in Sukkur, Ghotki and Khairpur districts where a total of 7,833 nomination papers have been filed, with 5,193 candidates finalised to contest the polls.

Similarly, 15,784 people had filed nomination papers for 2,333 constituencies in Jacobabad, Kashmore, Kamber Shahdadkot, Larkana and Shikarpur districts, of which 620 forms were rejected. Many candidates withdrew their candidature. The latest figures provided by the election commission reveal that 4,894 candidates will contest the elections in these areas as 426 have already been elected unopposed.

The majority of candidates are contesting in Khairpur Mirs. The data available with The Express Tribune reveals that 3,959 candidates had filed their nomination papers in the district, out of which 2,664 will contest the polls for chairman, vice-chairman, general councilor as well as indirect elections on women, peasant/labour, youth and non-Muslim seats. Sukkur district falls second in terms of aspiring candidates where the number of final candidates stands at 1,568. In Larkana, around 1,363 candidates are contesting the polls.

There are 540 union councils and committees in these eight districts where the first phase of the elections is taking place.

Ahmed Nadeem Shaikh, the deputy director of the provincial election commission, who has been appointed as the focal person for the media, said that eight district returning officers (DROs), 4,434 presiding officers and 27,186 assistant presiding officers have been appointed in these districts.

Sources in the election commission revealed that magisterial powers have been given to the presiding officers who will be able to penalise people for any misdemeanour at the time of elections. “Three month punishment will be awarded to those who create unrest or violate the code of conduct around the polling stations or use the loudspeaker,” said the source. “Moreover, six months imprisonment will be given, with Rs2000 penalty, to those who try to damage the ballot papers.”

Officials said that around 860 constituencies have been declared most sensitive, of which 460 are in Sukkur and 402 in Larkana division. “In these constituencies, 8,650 police personnel will be deployed and 11,056 policemen will perform their duties in the 1,382 sensitive constituencies,” said a senior official.

There are reports that Rangers and police personnel will be deployed inside and outside the polling stations, but officials of the provincial election commission said that the security plan has yet to be finalised.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2015.