Election process for Local Government Elections 2005 kicked off on Saturday with the issuance of notices inviting nominations from candidates in 3074 union councils of 54 districts. In the first phase of three-phase local government elections, the process of filing nomination papers in 17 districts of Punjab, 11 districts of Sindh, 12 districts of NWFP and 14 districts of Balochistan, is starting from July 18, 2005.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the aspiring candidates and ensure impartiality, transparency and smooth conduct of the polls.
"All preparations have been made to hold the elections smoothly and impartially," said Election Commission of Pakistan Secretary Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad.
"The process starts today with inviting notices for submission of nominations by candidates from July 18 to July 20," he told APP.
The first phase districts in Punjab include Gujranwala City District, Sialkot, Sargodha, Khushab, Multan City District, Lodhran, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Vehari, D G Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahimyar Khan district.
In Sindh, election will be held in Karachi City District, Thatta, Tando Allah Yar, Ghotki, Noshehro Feroz, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Mirpur Khas, Umerkot, Sanghar and Tharparker.
In NWFP, election will be held in Peshawar City District, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, D I Khan, Tank, Haripur and Buner districts.
In Balochistan, the first phase polling for the Local Government elections will be held in Khuzdar, Mastung, Kharan, Awaran, Pishin, Noshki, Sibbi, Ziarat, Bolan, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Qila Saifullah, Barkhan and Gwadar districts.
Election Commission Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said the Provincial Election Commissioners have confirmed that Returning Officers appointed for conduct of the elections in respective provinces have issued the public notices as per schedule.
According to schedule for first phase, date for inviting nomination papers by the Returning Officers has been set for July 16 and nomination papers will be received from July 18 to 20, 2005.
Publication of notice for nominations will be made on July 21 and objections by voters on the nominations will be received on July 22.
Scrutiny of nomination papers will be carried out on July 23 and 24 and the offices of the Returning Officers will remain open on Sunday (July 24).
Date for filing appeals against acceptance and rejection of the nomination papers has been set for July 25 and disposal of appeals will be made on July 27, 2005.
Date for withdrawal of candidature by the candidates has been set for July 28 while the list of contesting candidates will be published on July 29.
Polling for the first phase elections of Union Nazims, Union Naib Nazims and members in Union Councils including Muslim general, Muslim (women), peasants/workers, peasants/workers (women) and minority communities will be held on August 18 and result, thereof, will be declared on August 20, 2005.