ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday announced the schedule for second phase of local government (LG) polls in Sindh and Punjab, to be held on Nov 19.

According to the notification by ECP, candidates will file nomination papers with the returning officers between Sept 13 and 17.

Returning officers will scrutinise the papers from Sept 26 to Oct 1 and the candidates may withdraw their nomination papers till Oct 13. The final list of the candidates will be published on Oct 14.

The districts of Sindh are: Khairpur which has 86 union councils (UCs), Sukkur 63 UCs, Ghotki 64 UCs, Larkana 67 UCs, Shikarpur 55 UCs, Qambar-Shahdadkot 52 UCs, Jacobabad 44 UCs and Kashmor-Kandkot 41 UCs.

The districts of Punjab are: Lodhran having 70 UCs, Vehari 105 UCs, Okara 140 UCs, Pakpattan 54 UCs, Bahawalnagar 135 UCs, Faisalabad 189 UCs, Bhakkar 64 UCs, Lahore 274 UCs, Kasur 125 UCs, Nankana Sahib 65 UCs, Gujrat 129 UCs and Chakwal 71 UCs.

District Returning Officers (DROs), Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) have already been appointed by ECP for this purpose, and they have been asked to fulfill their duties in accordance with the provision of law and rules and maintain neutrality and impartiality.

According to the notification by the ECP, severe action will be taken against those returning officers who fail to fulfill their responsibilities.

Furthermore, the commission has declined the requests of the provincial governments and provincial election commissioners (PECs) of Punjab and Sindh for the replacements of DROs, ROs and AROs, directing that the proposal for any changes — if required in the public interest — may be sent to the ECP for approval with full justification and compelling reasons.

Earlier on Aug 26, the ECP announced the schedule for the first phase of LG elections in Punjab and Sindh, the process of which will commence in September and will come to an end with polls scheduled for October 31.

Last month, the ECP filed a petition in the Supreme Court for a 30-day extension in the date for holding local government elections in Punjab and Sindh province.

Also read: Sindh proposes local polls in phases

The ECP had said that it would be difficult to print nomination papers as the Sindh government intends to change election rules.