Two candidates file nomination papers for NA-120 by-polls

RO will receive papers till Saturday; final list of candidates will be announced on August 26

ISLAMABAD: Two candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for the NA-120 by-election, the seat vacated after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted by the Supreme Court last month.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, two candidates, Ghulam Shabbir and Mickal Fars Sarwyaa, submitted their nomination papers with the constituency’s returning officer on Thursday – the first day of filing nomination papers.

While Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has fielded Dr Yasmeen Rashid as its candidate for the constituency, the PML-N has not yet announced its contender. However, it is speculated that either Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of former premier, or his daughter Maryam Nawaz will contest the by-election.



The process of filing papers with the returning officer (RO) will continue till August 12. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place from August 15 to 17.

Similarly, the last date to file appeals against the RO’s decisions to reject or accept a candidate’s documents will be August 21, while the last date for the Appellate Tribunal to decide on those appeals will be August 24.

A candidate can withdraw from the election process by August 25 latest.

Meanwhile, the list of revised candidates will be published on August 26 and the polls will be held on September 17.

The NA-120 RO will be receiving nomination papers at the office of the Provincial Election Commissioner, Punjab, 10-Court Street, Lahore between from 8am to 4pm till Saturday.