KARACHl: With two days left for filing nomination papers for the second phase of the local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions, around 8,000 candidates have so far filed their candidatures to take part in the contest in July, it emerged on Thursday.

Of the total candidates, more than 3,000 candidates had filed papers for different seats in Karachi division.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last week finally started execution of the second phase of the polls for municipal bodies inviting nomination papers of candidates from Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.

`For Karachi division, nomination forms are being filed for seven districts East, West, South, Central, Korangi, Keamari and Malir,` said an official.`There are nine districts in Hyderabad division which include Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Alahyar, Badin, Sujawal and Thatta.

He said that in union committees of all these districts, nominations were being filed for UC chairman, vice chairman, UC ward general councillors, municipal committees and town committees on total 5,043 seats.

According to the ECP schedule, the process of filing papers would continue till June 11.

The final list of candidates of the second phase would be issued on June 28 and polling would be held on July 24.

Polling for the first phase of LG elections in the province would be held on June 26 in Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas divisions.