The numbers aged 56 60, 66-70 and 71-75 years were low less than 5 per cent
bined. Pattan data shows a similar picture for 2005. Nationwide approximately
of the successful district and town/taluka candidates were in the age group
years, while 35 per cent were 31-40 years. Some 30 per cent of candidates were
50 years and approximately 20 per cent were older than 50 years
Pattan data also suggests that the DOPP reforms encouraged new entrants to local
vernment. In 2001, 57 per cent of candidates for nazims and 75 per cent for naib
nazims (deputy mayor) contested elections for the first time. In 2005 similar trends
ntinued: approximately 70 per cent of those elected as union councillors were new
faces, and few of these had previously been members of town/taluka or district councils
Alam's study 2004) of the 2001 elections in Sindh province again provides supporting
idence. Out of 16 district mayors elected in Sindh province, none had any past
experience in local government, but 12 out of 16 had been a member of a provincial or
the national parliament. This in itself may be seen as a reflection of empowerment at
the local government level, attracting national/provincial or mainstream politicians
to contest local government elections. In the category of town/taluka mayors, only
3 per cent had previous experience in local government, while one mayor had been a
senator. Overall only 14 out of 102 town/taluka mayors (13.7 per cent) had previous