LARKANA/ LAHORE: Vote count is underway after polling in first phase of local government election in 20 districts of Punjab and Sindh ended here on Saturday.
Nearly 25 million registered voters were to exercise the right to elect their municipal representatives. However, the Election Commission has said the turn out remained 50 percent.
The polling ended with the tragic incident of firing in Ranipur in Khairpur district of Sindh where at least 11 people were killed outside a polling station.
The polling was disrupted at polling stations in different parts of the two province when political rivals clashed.
Votes in Punjab
The districts of Punjab where polling was held today were: Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Chakwal, Bhakkar, Nankana Sahib, Kasur, Pakpattan, Okara, Lodhran, Vehari and Bahawalnagar.
The number of registered voters in Lahore are 4,305,880, Faisalabad 3,944,545, Gujrat 1,726,760, Kasur 1,614,042, Okara 1,507,246, Vehari 1,430,692, Bahawalnagar 1,387,865, Chakwal 1,009,947, Pakpattan 898,144, Lodhran 817,445, Bhakar 765,171 and Nankana Sahib 676,587.
As many as 4,500 candidates appeared for chairman/vice chairman of District Councils whereas a total of 19,213 contested for General Members of District Council’s Union Councils and 5531 candidates were in the race for General Members of Municipal Committee’s Wards.
According to the Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, a union council shall have a directly elected chairman and a vice-chairman as joint candidates, and six councillors on general seats- one each from a ward. These members can contest polls either on party tickets or as independent candidates.
The electorates voted for the panel of a chairman and one general councillor from their respective ward.
Once elected, the general members will elect two female members, one worker, a youth and a non-Muslim member for their wards.
Votes in Sindh
Polling in Sindh was held in Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore and Qamber districts where nearly 4.6 million voters are registered.
There are nearly 10,000 candidates in the arena for municipal seats in Sindh.
Authorities said adequate security arrangements are already in place and this would be further strengthened to avoid any untoward situation.
During today’s exercise, people elected their representatives at District Council, Union councils, Union Committee, Municipal Corporation and Municipal Committees levels respectively.
Under the current arrangement, there will be a chairperson, vice-chairperson and four general councilors from each union councils (in rural areas) and union committee (in urban areas).
As per new rules for voting under Sindh Local Government (Third Amendment) Bill 2015, people will be directly electing only chairperson, vice-chairperson and four general councilors.
The elected chairperson, vice chairperson and councilors belonging to each of the union council or committee would elect non-Muslim councilor as those contesting against reserved slots for women, youth and laborer.
Provincial government authorities cite the arrangement a prudent measure that would facilitate voters and help avoid unnecessary confusion due to plethora of votes to be caste at a single given time.
Phase I sensitive Polling Stations
Punjab: According to the list of polling stations issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (Punjab office), as many as 3551 polling stations were declared as highly sensitive in all the 12 districts for the 1st phase of Local Body Polls.
Public Holiday
Punjab: The Punjab government announced a public holiday on account of local bodies elections in the district.
Sindh: Sindh government also announced public holiday in its eight districts going for first phase of the local bodies polls.
Authorities said that all government and private institutions will remain closed in Khairpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, Larkana, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Jacobabad and Kashmore to facilitate optimum public participation in the exercise.
Second Phase of Local Bodies Polls
Sindh: Polling for second phase of local government elections will be held in Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu and Jamshoro on November 19.
Other districts in Sindh to go for polls include Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushehro Feroz, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar.
Local bodies polls in Karachi will be held on December 3, according to an official.
Punjab: Polling for the second phase will be held on November 19 this year in Khanewal, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, M.B.Din, Attock and Jhelum districts.
The third phase will take place on December 5 in Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhawalpur, Rajan Pur, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Rawalpindi, Muzaffar Garh, Narowal, Jhang and Khushab. Samaa/APP
LG polls: Vote count under way in Punjab, Sindh
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