The Election Commission of Pakistan would hold local bodies elections in four phases. The first phase would begin in April while the fourth phase would be held in the last week of May 2005. Sources said in the first phase, elections would be held in Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Leiah, Sargodha, Mianwali, Khushab and Bhakkar.

Polling schemes of these districts have been finalised as follows: 1215 presiding officers (POs), 5474 assistant presiding officers (APOs), 5474 polling officers (total staff 12,364) for Sargodha district; 518 POs, 2086 APOs, 2086 polling officers (total staff 4690) for Khushab district; 581 POs, 2254 APOs, 2254 polling officers (total 5089) for Mianwali district; 537 POs, 2166 APOs, 2166 polling officers (total 4869) for Bhakkar district; 839 POs, 3005 APOs, and 3005 polling officers (total 6849) for Dera Ghazi Khan district; 532 POs, 1950 APOs, 1950 polling officers (total 4432) for Rajanpur district, 1220 POs, 8192 APOs, 4096 polling officer (total 13,508) for Muzaffargarh district; and 558 POs, 3858 APOs, 1929 polling officers (total 6345) for Leiah district.

In the second phase, elections would be held in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar khan, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot and Narowal. In Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, Sahiwal, Khanewal and Pakpattan in the third phase, and in final the phase in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jehlum, Chakwal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara and Sheikhupura.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005