Local Government elections
Stalwarts lock horns in final round today
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—Third phase of local bodies polls will be held today (Thursday) for the election of district, tehsil and towns Nazims an Naib Nazims.
According to statistics issued by Elections Commission of Pakistan, 1887 candidates will participate in elections in 498 districts, Tehsils and towns for Nazims seats.
8801 female candidates, 2141 minorities and 5624 candidates for farmer and labourer seats are participating in the elections.
In 109 districts, 430 candidates are in the field for district Nazim slots, out of which, the number of candidates in the districts of Punjab is 134, 86 in Sindh, 95 in NWFP and 115 in Balochistan.
According to statistics, 1457 candidates are contesting in 389 Tehsils and towns, out of which number of candidates in Punjab is 557, 380 in Sindh, 251 in NWFP and 269 in Balochistan.
Number of female contesters in provinces districts is 4005 against 2027 seats, as 2432 in Punjab, 557 in Sindh, 583 in NWFP and 433 women candidates in Balochistan.
While 4796 women candidates are participating in polls in Tehsils and towns.
It is learnt that foolproof security measures have been taken for the transparency of electoral process.
Parliamentarians, ministers, standing committees chairmen will not be allowed to visit polling stations.
Voters have also been directed to present their computerize identity cards prior to casting vote.
Elections agents, polling agents and voters will not allowed to carry mobile in polling stations during voting hours.
Secretary Election Commission Kunwar Muhammad Dilshad said that no person will be allowed to remain in polling stations without returning officers permission.
The Election Commission of Pakistan announced on Wednesday that new and old National Identity Cards are valid for voting in the third phase of Local Government election while newly issued ID cards by the concerned Assistant Election Commissioner is not mandatory/compulsory at the time of casting votes.
Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad Secretary Election Commission said that Rule 30(1) of the Local Government Rules of the Provinces, which provides that where a voter presents himself at the polling station to vote, he shall show his national identity card to the Presiding Officer, who shall, after satisfying himself about the identity of the voter, issue him ballot papers.
The Chief Election Commissioner allowed the voters to cast their votes on production of either Computerized NIC or old NIC and has directed that Presiding Officers shall entertain only original National Identity Cards whether new or old and no photocopy of the Identity Cards shall be accepted at the time of casting of vote by the voters.
The Chief Election Commissioner has further directed that possession of Identity Card issued by the concerned Assistant Election Commissioner is not mandatory/compulsory at the time of casting votes for elections to the seats of Zila Nazims as well as Tehsil/Town Nazims and the reserved seats for Women, Peasants/ Workers and Minority Communities in Zila Councils and Tehsil/Town Councils.
Our Peshawar Bureau adds: All arrangements have been finalized for the last phase of local government electin to be held on Thursday (Oct 6).
A total of 11604 elected members of the union councils in NWFP will exercise their right of franchise to elect 24 district, four town, 50 tehsil nazims and 744 members of the district and town councils against reserved seats of the province.
According to the Provincial Election Commission, some 162 polling stations have been set up throughout the province.
In district Peshawar, the total number of voters is 1136 who will elect district, four town nazims, 40 District and 38 town councilors.
In district Nowshera, a total of 573 voters will elect district, tehsil nazims, 20 district and 20 tehsil councillors. The number of elected union councils’ nazims and councilors in district Charsadda are 593 who will elect one district, three tehsil nazim, 18 district and 20 tehsil councilors.
In district Mardan, some 904 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims, 33 district and 33 tehsil councilors. In district wabi, 638 voters will cast votes for district, two tehsil nazims, 21 district and 23 tehsil councilors.
Similarly, in District Kohat 381 voters will cast votes to elect district, tehsil nazims, 15 district and 15 tehsil councilors. In Karak, 251 voters will elect district, three tehsil nazims, 8 district and 10 tehsil councilors. In district Bannu, the total number of voters is 576 who will elect district, two tehsil nazims, 21 district and 9 tehsil councilors.
In D. I. Khan, a total of 581 voters will elect district, five tehsil nazims, 19 district and 21 tehsil councilors. In district Tank, 194 voters will elect district, tehsil nazim, seven district and seven tehsil councilors.
In Haripure, 547 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims, 16 district and 18 tehsil councilors. In district Buner, 333 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims, six district and 13 tehsil councilors. In Hangu, 227 voters to elect district, two tehsil nazims, five district and eight tehsil councilors.
In Lakki Marwat, 394 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims, 12 district and 13 tehsil councilors. In district Abbotabad, the total number of voters is 614 who will elect district, two tehsil nazims, 22 district and 23 tehsil councilors. In Manshera, 708 will elect district, three tehsil nazims, 23 district and 24 tehsil councilors.
In Battagram, some 200 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims, two district and three tehsil councilors. In district Kohistan, 304 voters will elect district, three tehsil nazim, two district and three tehsil councilors.
In Swat, 769 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims, 23 district and 28 tehsil councilors. In district Shangla, 333 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims, 10 district and 11 tehsil councilors. In District Dir(upper), 313 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims, seven district and 11 tehsil councilors.
In Dir (Lower), 104 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims and 14 tehsil councilors. In Chitral, 290 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims, 10 district and 11 tehsil councilors. Whereas in district Malakand, 341 voters will elect district, two tehsil nazims, 12 district and 14 tehsil councilors.
Our Quetta Bureau adds: Election Commissioner Balochistan Chaudry Qamar-uz-Zaman has said that a total of 216 polling stations and 316 polling booths have been set up to hold polling for the third phase of LB polls in 26 out of 28 districts of the province.
Candidates from Dera Bugti and Jhal Magsi districts have already been elected unopposed.
The polling will commence at 8 am and remain continue up to 4 pm without interval.
He said, the provincial government has made satisfactory security arrangements to ensure peaceful atmosphere during the polling.
He said, in pursuance of the direction of the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan (CECP) entry of ministers and parliamentarians within the premises of polling stations will be banned. He said CECP will also visit the province to review polling process.