OKARA City News

LG polls
‘Missing’ candidates appear suddenly to file papers
From Our Correspondent
OKARA: The nomination papers for local government elections, provided free to candidates, were sold for Rs 200 to Rs 400 per set on the last day of submission of nominations.
Since September 7, the first day to submit nomination papers, till Thursday, the offices of returning officers gave a deserted look as no candidate or his lawyer visited even to obtain the papers. But on Friday morning, the District Complex suddenly became overcrowded.
It reflected the nation’s psychology of rushing to banks, post offices and other government offices to deposit utility bills or receive/ submit their documents on the very the last day, rather at the last moment. The same psychology seems to have been working in the process of submission of nomination papers.
For the previous four days - from September 7 to September 10 - not a single candidate stepped into the RO office even to get information regarding the nomination forms or advice to fill in papers. But on Friday morning, entire District Complex was jam packed. The male and female students of two district public schools had to walk out of the area after the school closing as their parents could not reach the gates on account of hundreds of vehicles and people. The chambers of lawyers as well as photo copy and scribers stalls were lined up by the candidates, their proposers and supporters. Patwaris and other revenue staff were hectically searched for by the candidates to obtain clearance of default revenue, outstanding amounts of civic amenities, property tax and others. All the three tehsil offices of the district witnessed the same scene which continued till midnight.
An NGO Aurat Foundation had established stalls in the complex to facilitate the candidates by providing them information regarding the whole election process.