ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan yesterday issued schedule for the second phase of Local Government elections in Punjab and Sindh. The election body also issued de-notification of PML-N provincial lawmaker Mohsin Latif as member Punjab Assembly after elections in his constituency was declared null and void by an election tribunal.

According to a notification issued by the ECP, polling will be held in 12 districts of Punjab and 15 districts of Sindh on November 19 in second phase of the LG polls in the two provinces.

It said that the provincial governments cannot make changes in the voters’ lists after the official notification of the schedule. Similarly, the provincial governments cannot make any postings and transfers of public servants unless approved by the commission.
Districts of Punjab where LG polls will be held in the first phase include Khanewal, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Attock and Jhelum.

In Sindh, polling will be held in districts Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushero Feroze, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar.
According to the notification, a public notice will be issued by Returning Officers on September 9 while candidates can file nomination papers with Returning Officers (ROs) till September 17.

Last month, the ECP had announced to hold the first phase of the much delayed LG polls in Sindh and Punjab on October 31.
Announcing the schedule for the LG polls, ECP said that in the first phase elections will be held in 13 districts of Punjab including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Lodhran, Vehari, Okara, Pakpattan, Bahwalnagar, Bhakkar, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, and Chakwal. While in Sindh, polls will be held in Khairpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, Larkana, Shikarpur, Qamber Shahdadkot, Jacobabad and Kashmore.
The ECP also issued schedule for holding by-polls on PP-147 that fell vacant after disqualification of Mohsin Latif as MPA Punjab Assembly. By-election on the seat will be held on October 11.
Political observers believe that the disqualification of three PML-N lawmakers, including former speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, MNA Siddiue Baloch and MPA Mohsin Latif in a row may cause setback to the ruling party in the by-polls and LG elections as it would dampen the popularity of PML-N.