PESHAWAR: The Local government (LG) elections in the remaining 65 tehsils of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s 18 districts will be held tomorrow [31 March].
Special Assistant to chief minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif told a press conference that the government has completed all arrangements for the elections days and full proof security will be provided to that 8.57 million people exercise their right to vote in a peaceful environment. He said compared to the first phase of election, more security has been provided to women candidates. Saif said that if required Pakistan army personnel would also be deployed
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The Election Commission on Pakistan (ECP) has declared 1609 polling stations “most sensitive”, 2319 “sensitive” and 2069 normal ahead of the elections out of the 6,176 polling stations established for 31 March polls.
The ECP data shows that 39554 candidates are vying for 12875 seats. A total of 651 candidates will contest for city mayor and tehsil chairman seats, 12,980 for general and neighborhood councils, 2,668 for women seats, 6,451 for labour, 5,213 candidates for Kisan and youth seats and 57 have submitted nomination papers for religious minorities’ seats. The election body informed that a total of 1,318 candidates have been elected unopposed in 65 tehsils. Some 351 candidates have been elected unopposed on general seats, 533 on women seats, 151 on labour and Kisan seats, 233 on youth seats and 50 on minority seats in Village and Neighborhood Councils.
The Election process was marred by election rules violations, especially by ruling political parties’ leadership. The commission has also several notices and imposed fines on Prime minister Imran Khan for violating the election code of conduct. The ECP had complained that, “The code of conduct is being violated, the state machinery is unable to enforce the election rules and the district administration is not offering cooperation to ECP to conduct free and fair elections.”
Fines were imposed on PM Khan, chief minister and other federal ministers for holding rallies in Swat, Mansehra, Lower Dir and other districts by using state machinery however, the Islamabad high court has stopped the commission from taking further action against the PM.