Cantonment LB polls party-less in name only

ISLAMABAD: Local Bodies (LB) elections in 42 Cantonment Boards (CBs) are being held on party-less basis only in name while in fact they are absolutely party-based. Under the law, any candidate found to be using the platform or flag of any political party or having association with it will stand disqualified.
Prominent among the political parties, which are actively contesting the non-party elections, are Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). They have completely politicised the exercise, which, as per the law, has to be non-political.
Even the PTI has written to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), alleging an attempt by the PML-N to politicise these polls. But it is also doing precisely the same with remarkable enthusiasm to get a large share in the CBs for the first time in its political life.
These political parties are preparing to unofficially field their nominees under the nomenclatures of various electoral groups. The PML-N is expected to opt for the Khushaal Pakistan group.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan recently directed that federal and provincial legislators and party office bearers would jointly select candidates for local elections to avoid any squabbling.In the case of Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments, the PTI has received more than 150 applications from aspirants. Similarly, the PTI Lahore has short-listed candidates from amongst over 100 applicants for general seats of Cantonment and Walton boards.
PTI Lahore President Abdul Aleem and senior vice-president Shoaib Siddiqui have interviewed the aspirants in the light of recommendations of the office-bearers of local organisations, former national and provincial candidates and district office-bearers.
“We have decided to bring forward the elected party people as well as those attached with the PTI since long as its candidates for the local elections,” Aleem has been quoted as saying.He said the cantonment areas are home to educated people, who represent the PTI’s vote bank, and that the PML-N would again face a humiliating defeat.
In Rawalpindi, the PML-N formed a 13-member committee under the chairmanship of Senator Chaudhry Tanveer to finalise the candidates for the PML-N-supported Khushal Pakistan Group.More than 231 candidates applied for the seats of the Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment boards. The committee will announce the candidates on Monday after getting a go-ahead from the party leadership.
Both the PTI and PML-N are marred by factionalism in different areas with every group trying to get its choice candidates sponsored.In some areas, it is a fight between their elected federal or provincial legislators and those who faced defeat in the 2013 general elections. There are no reports of intervention by senior party leaderships to get rid of the tussles.
However, the CBs elections are a highly limited exercise as nearly two million electorates will use their right of vote. The ECP is supervising the local polls for the first time.The polling will be held on April 25. The ECP has announced a code of conduct, barring government officials, including the prime minister from taking part in the election campaign. The nomination papers will be submitted from March 29 to 31. Scrutiny will be done on April 2-4. The candidates will be able to submit appeals until April 4 against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers. The decisions on appeals will be announced on April 9.
Candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by April 10 while the election symbols will be allotted on April 11.A total of 199 general councilors will be elected from 42 CBs in the first round of elections. Election results will be announced on April 28.In the second round, newly elected general councilors will select representatives of female workers, minority youth and farmers.