Polling for the second phase of local bodies’ elections in Balochistan started at the appointed time, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.
The elections are being held on the reserved seats of women, labourers, farmers and minorities in Jaffarabad, Usta Muhammad and Duki.
Polling started at the appointed time in Jaffarabad and Usta Muhammad. Out of 39 Union Councils of the District Council, as many as 170 candidates are vying for 87 seats of women, labourers, farmers, and minorities.
73 candidates are vying for 44 seats of women, 32 for 17 seats of farmers, 51 for 19 seats of labourers, and 14 for seven seats of minorities. 121 elected councilors of the District Council will vote for these candidates and make them successful.
In 28 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Dera Allah Yar, 18 candidates are vying for nine seats of women, three for one seat of farmers and labourers each, and two for one seat of minorities. 27 elected councilors will make these candidates successful through voting.
In 25 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Usta Muhammad, the farmer and minority candidates were declared successful unopposed, whereas, 11 candidates are competing for eight seats of women.
All the candidates of Gandakha Municipal Committee were declared successful. A total of 24 polling stations were set up for voting on the reserved seats, and their security was kept tightened.
In order to make the election transparent, candidates and voters have been banned from bringing mobile phones inside the polling station.
In Duki district, elections are being held in 12 out of 19 Union Councils and Municipal Committees. 13 polling stations were set up for casting votes. Seven candidates, vying for the Union Council seats, were already declared successful.
Reporter Esa Khan