Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalised all the arrangements to hold third and final phase of local bodies' (LBs) polls on Thursday, October 06, 2005.
Like other parts of the country, the arrangements for third phase in Karachi have also been completed for election of City Nazim, Town Nazims and reserved seats for women, peasant/worker and minorities in city and town councils of the city, but all the eyes are set at the election of City Nazim Karachi, as to who will bag the coveted post of City Nazim Karachi.
Although, three candidates are in the run for City Nazim election, the real contest is between Syed Mustafa Kamal of MQM-backed Haq Parast Panel and Naimatullah Khan of Tameer-e-Karachi Ittehad (TKI), backed by all opposition parties.
Despite the fact that three candidates are vying for City Nazim Karachi slot, the ballot paper for City Nazim election would be carrying more than three election symbols, because three candidates for City Nazim election Fauzia Wahab, Syed Zahid Ali and Rizwan Khanzada retired in favour of Naimatullah Khan, but they did it after the passing of last date of withdrawal of nominations papers.
The election symbol of Syed Mustafa Kamal (Haq Parast Panel) is Charpai, Naimatullah Khan (TKI) has the symbol of Candle and Dr Hanif (independent) has the election symbol of Chair.
Apart from City Nazim election, interesting contests will be seen between the candidates for Nazims posts in 18 towns of the city.
The results of first phase of LBs elections show that in some towns Haq Parast panel has the absolute majority to grab the town Nazims posts, however, in few towns, close contests would be seen between opposition parties backed candidates and candidates supported by ruling parties.
A total of 2,314 elected Nazims, Naib Nazims and councillors of 178 union councils of the city would be casting the vote in final phase of local government elections at 54 polling stations, set up for the purpose. A total of eight ballot papers would be given for election of City Nazim, Town Nazim and reserved seats in city and town councils.
Irrespective of what the rival groups are claiming about the support of elected Nazims, Naib Nazims and councillors, Haq Parast Panel seems to have edge over its opponent groups for City Nazim election.
MQM-backed Haq Parast Panel claims to have the support over 1,500 members of electoral college for 3rd phase of election whereas the TKI has also come up with the figures of having the support of majority of elected representatives.
Apart from claims and counter claims of rival groups, the independent sources suggest that over 200 independent Nazims, Naib Nazims and councillors, who won in the first phase, would play the decisive role in the 3rd phase of LBs polls.
"The independents will play the key role and whoever succeeded in getting the support of these elected representatives, will easily win the election of City Nazim and will be grabbing the majority reserved seats of city and town councils", they opined.
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