Thousands file papers as first phase of electoral process ends

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/PESHAWAR: Thousands of candidates — including political heavyweights — representing different political parties submitted their nominations papers with returning officers in their respective constituencies on Sunday — the last day for filing nomination papers.

The Electoral Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had fixed the deadline of December 22 for filing the nomination papers; however, the date was extended to facilitate the aspiring candidates and political parties.

The electoral body Sunday released an updated roster of 175 officially registered political parties representing a diverse spectrum in the political arena.

The updated list no longer includes the name of PTI founder Imran Khan as the head of the party, marking PTI as a leaderless political entity.

Furthermore, the roster now incorporates the faction led by Pervez Khattak, known as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians.

A noteworthy event occurred earlier as PTI lost its electoral symbol, the bat, following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) announcement of the reserved verdict on the party’s intra-party elections.

After hearing arguments from the parties concerned, the ECP initially reserved its decision.

Following this, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, leading a five-member bench of the Election Commission, declared the PTI’s intra-party elections null and void.

Following the ECP’s verdict, Gohar Ali Khan, who took over as PTI chairman after Imran Khan, will no longer serve as the party’s leader.

Significantly, the registered entities include the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), led by President Abdul Aleem Khan.

The PTI’s registration is associated with its former chairman Pervez Khattak, while PMLN and PMLQ are registered under the names of Shehbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, respectively.

The list includes several other notable party affiliations.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is registered as the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians under Asif Ali Zardari’s name.

Furthermore, Balochistan Awami Party is registered under the leadership of its President Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, and the Awami Muslim League Pakistan (AMLP) is listed under the leadership of President Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

The roster also highlights other prominent political groups, including Awami National Party (ANP) led by Asfandyar Wali Khan, Balochistan National Party (BNP) led by Akhtar Mengal and Jamaat-e-Islami led by Sirajul Haq.

Additionally, Jamiat Ulema Islam, led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), represented by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, are listed.

As per the schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will begin today (Monday) till December 30.

Appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers can be submitted until the 3rd of January and decisions on these appeals will be made by January 10.

The list of candidates will be displayed on January 11 and candidates would have the option to withdraw until January 12.

The electoral symbols will be allotted on January 13 and polling for the general elections will be held on February 8.

The electoral body has given more time to foreign observers to monitor the general elections.

Now, they can submit their applications from December 31 to January 20.

In Sindh, 552 nomination papers were submitted for the reserved seats.

The ECP received 118 and 309 nomination papers for seats reserved for women in the national and provincial assemblies respectively. As many as 125 nomination papers were filed for reserved seats for minorities.

According to KP Election Commissioner’s spokesman Sohail Ahmad, 472 nomination papers had been filed for the reserved seats for women and minorities in the national and provincial assemblies.

PMLN Quaid and three-time prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz filed their nomination papers from different constituencies.

PMLN leader Bilal Yasin submitted the nomination papers on behalf of Nawaz Sharif from NA-130 (Lahore-XIV), while Maryam submitted her papers for two National Assembly (NA-119 and NA-120) constituencies.

Maryam also submitted her nomination papers from four constituencies of the Punjab Assembly — PP-159, PP-160, PP-165 and PP-80.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari submitted his nomination papers for NA-127, Lahore — a seat where his party stood at number two in 2021 by-polls. Sitting ticket holder Chaudhry Aslam Gill is his covering candidate.

This is the same seat which was NA-128 in the last general elections and was won by PMLN’s Pervaiz Malik. After his death in 2021, his wife Shaista Pervaiz Malik won from here, bagging 45,000 votes. However, much to the surprise of many, the PPP candidate also bagged more than 30,000 votes in the contest amid allegations of using Sindh machinery for electioneering.

NA-127 comprises Kot Lakhpat, Green Town, some part of Yuhanabad and other adjoining areas. Besides, the PPP has also issued a list for women for the reserved seats. Hina Rabbani Khar’s name is atop the priority list from Punjab.

In Peshawar, a large number of women are among thousands of candidates who submitted their nomination papers for 55 seats in the National Assembly and 145 slots in the provincial assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

As many as 94 women have filed nomination papers for 10 seats in the NA reserved for women from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Another 304 are candidates for a reserved seat in the KP Assembly. Many women are also contesting the polls on the general seats.

The offices of the returning officers remained packed on Sunday, the last day of filing nomination papers. Preliminary lists of the contenders from all the constituencies will be issued today (Monday).

In Peshawar, former federal minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Senior Vice Chairman Sher Afzal Marwat, former MNA Shandana Gulzar, Arbab Alamgir, Noor Alam Khan, Arbab Amir Ayub, Arbab Sher Ali, Nasir Musazai, Saqib Ullah Chamkani and former runners-up Arbab Kamal Ahmad and Misbahuddin are among the prominent candidates who submitted nomination papers for the National Assembly seats.

Apart from former MNAs and runner-up contenders in the previous tenure, some new faces are also among the main candidates. At least, three MNAs in the previous tenure switched their loyalties and are contesting polls on the ticket of another party in the coming general polls.

Former PTI MNA Nasir Musazai and Noor Alam Khan are candidates of JUIF in the polls while Shaukat Ali is a candidate of PTI Parliamentarians.

According to an official of the Election Commission of Pakistan, 94 women submitted nomination papers for reserved seats in NA and 304 for KP Assembly till Sunday.

Besides, 74 candidates have filed papers for the seats reserved for minorities from KP. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities have told the federal government that KP is short of 42,000 personnel to ensure adequate security for the upcoming general elections.

According to reports, the current strength of the police force in KP is 92,360 while the required strength is around 135,000.

Earlier, the province had demanded a strength of 149,777 policemen for the polls duty. Attacks in a number of KP districts have recorded an increase in the last many months.

Reports said there will be over 15,737 polling stations set up in KP for the polls. It added that 4,812 of these polling stations are to be declared sensitive while 6,581 are to be sensitive. As many as 150 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the 10 NA seats reserved for non-Muslims from across the country.

According to the Form 31, shared by the Election Commission of Pakistan’s Media Coordination and Outreach Wing, Muhammad Farid Afridi, the returning officer for the reserved seats of the National Assembly, has furnished a list of 150 non-Muslim candidates. The list of candidates includes both males and females.