Punjab LG polls: Schedule for first phase of elections issued

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the schedule for the first phase of local government elections in Punjab.

According to the ECP, the first phase will cover 17 districts of Attock, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Khushab, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Khanewal, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Pakpattan and Dera Ghazi Khan due on June 9.

Polling hours will be observed from 8 am to 5 pm, while results will be announced on June 14.

The following is the schedule of the polls:

• April 18 -- Public notice inviting nomination papers to be issued to returning officers (RO)
• April 21-25 -- Filing of nomination papers with ROs by candidates
• April 26 -- Publication of names of nominated candidates
• April 27- May 9 -- Scrutiny of nomination papers by ROs
• May 10-12 -- Filing of appeals against the decision of ROs
• May 14 -- Deciding of appeals by the appellate authority
• May 16 -- Publication of first revised list of candidates
• May 19 -- Last date for withdrawal and publication of second revised candidate list
• May 20 -- Allotment of symbols to contesting candidates
• June 9 -- Polling day
• June 14 -- Consolidation of results

In an official notification, the ECP barred executive authorities in the federation and the provinces from using state resources in local government elections calculated to influence the election in favor of a particular candidate.