Despite uncertainty regarding holding of Local Bodies (LB) polls, candidates have started their election campaign to muster support.
According to reports gathered from the provincial capitals, the candidates are visiting their supporters after 10 years and assuring them of resolution of their problems. The voters too have their reservations and are of the opinion that they would try new people but political pundits believe that the old horses would be the ultimate winners.
Meanwhile, scrutiny of nomination papers has started in Balochistan after the first phase of submission of candidature concluded on Saturday with over 22,000 candidates fling their nomination papers for the scheduled LB polls in Balochistan.
As many as 22,131 candidates filed their nomination papers for 7,189 seats in the province, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) sources said.
According to the ECP, final lists of the candidates will be issued on November 19 after the phases of objections, scrutiny and appeals are completed. In Punjab, candidates started receiving nomination papers on Sunday.
Following the Lahore High Court orders, the Punjab Law Ministry notified amendment in Local Government Act 2013 according to which the polls would be held on a party-basis.
November 12 is the last date for the filing of nomination papers in Sindh where the provincial government wanted to hold the polls on December 7 instead of November 27. The Sindh government has already moved the Supreme Court in this regard.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, where the PTI had promised to be the first to hold the LB elections, is expected to file its response next week.
On the other hand, the ECP has cancelled transfers of the Sindh chief secretary and the Printing Corporation managing director.
The ECP has also sought explanation from the Establishment Division secretary over the transfers.
