Re-polls schedule announced for 16 union councils

These union councils include Daraza, Khairpur, where 12 people were killed in a clash on Oct 31

KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued on Saturday the schedule for re-polls on November 14 in 16 union councils, including Daraza, Khairpur where 12 people were killed during the first phase of the local government elections on October 31.

According to a notification issued on Friday, the re-polls will be held in Ghotki, Khairpur, Qambar-Shahdadkot and Jacobabad districts. ECP officials said that during the first phase of LG elections, the poll for chairman, vice-chairman and general councillors was terminated by the District Returning Officers (DROs) due to various reasons such as clashes, absence of ballot papers, court matters and resignations of some contesting candidates.

The orders have been issued by the ECP under section 34 of the Sindh Local Government Act 2013 to hold the elections in union committees, union councils and municipal committees.

The notification further states that the elections will be held in only six polling stations for the slot of union council chairman and vice-chairman in Union Council 22, Mithri, of Ghotki district. Similarly, in union council 13, Noor Pur, of the district, the re-poll has been ordered in ward 3 for the slot of chairman, vice-chairman and member of district council. In Khairpur district, the election will be held in a few polling stations in Daraza, Pir Jo Goth, Noorpur and Akri union councils. One polling station is in Jacobabad district where the schedule for the re-poll has been ordered in a ward that falls in Miral union council. Most of the elections will be held in Qambar-Shadadkot district. According to the notification, the re-election has been ordered in some wards of eight union councils of the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2015.