KARACHI: Following the withdrawal of 3,507 candidates, 11,609 are in the run for the first phase of the local government election scheduled to be held on Oct 31 on 1,413 constituencies in eight districts of Sindh.

The first phase of the LG elections is being held in Sukkur, Ghotki and Khairpur of the Sukkur division and Larkana, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur and Kambar-Shahdadkot of the Larkana division.

A total of 15,783 nominations had been submitted in the eight districts and 14,492 of them were accepted. However, after scrutiny nomination papers of 14,848 candidates were found valid. A total of 662 appeals against acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers were filed with the tribunals, which after hearing allowed 268 of them.Officials said that in Sukkur total 1,588 candidates are in the run after 520 candidates withdrew their nominations.

In Ghotki, 977 candidates are contesting the election as 481 had withdrawn their nomination papers.

In Khairpur, 887 candidates withdrew their nominations leaving 3,146 candidates in the run.

In Larkana, after the withdrawal of 625 candidates, 1,475 are lef t in the field.

In Jacobabad, 898 candidates are in the run after 288 withdrew their nomination papers.

In Kashmore, after withdrawal of 237 candidates, only 753 candidates are left in the field.

In Shikarpur, 37 candidates withdrew their forms, leaving 1,353 candidates to contest the LG election.

In Kamber-Shahdadkot, after withdrawal of 432 nominations, 1,417 candidates are left in the contest.