Schedule for local govt polls announced

PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced the schedule and a code of conduct for the second phase of local government elections in 18 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The polling will be held on March 27. The ECP issued a notification declaring that public notices will be issued by the relevant returning officers inviting nomination papers on Feb 4 to be followed by the filing of nomination papers from Feb 7 to Feb 11.

The notification also carried a code of conduct for the LG elections barring public officeholders, including prime minister and the country’s president, from visiting any constituency for the polls from unveiling any development scheme and from canvassing votes for any candidate or political party.

Elections will be held for the posts of mayor and chairman of tehsil and city councils and different categories of members in village and neighbourhood councils in 18 districts, including Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Kohistan Upper, Kohistan Lower, Kolai-Palas, Kohistan, Swat, Malakand, Shangla, Lower and Upper Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Kurram, Orakzai and North and South Waziristan.

The first phase of elections was held in 17 districts on Dec 19, 2021.

In the second phase, elections will be held for 65 posts of the tehsil and city council chairmen and mayors in 18 districts.

According to the schedule, initial lists of nominated candidates will be issued on Feb 12 following which scrutiny of nomination papers will take place from Feb 14 to 16.

Appeals against acceptance and rejection of nomination papers could be filed from Feb 17 to 19, whereas the concerned appellate tribunal will decide those appeals until Feb 22.

Last date for withdrawal of nomination papers by the candidates and publication of the revised lists of candidates will be on Fen 25.

The returning officers will allot election symbols to candidates on Feb 28.

While polling will be on March 27, consolidation of results will take place on Apr 1.