Over 500 candidates obtain nomination papers

Shehbaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan have not obtained nomination papers

LAHORE: More than 500 contestants from different political and religious parties obtained nomination papers on Thursday from the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP), Lahore chapter while some 30 candidates have submitted their papers for the upcoming general elections.

In the first phase, the contestants of different political and religious parties obtained or submitted their nomination papers.

Those who submitted their nomination papers included Dr Yasmin Rashid, Khawaja Hassan, Jawad Ahmed, Umar Sohail Zia, Waheed Alam Gull, Dr Asif Ashraf Jalali and others. However, former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan had not obtained nomination papers. Nomination papers could be collected and submitted by June 8 (today).

PTI’s Dr Yasmin Rashid submitted her nomination papers from constituency NA-125, Jamshaid Iqbal Cheema submitted from NA-127, Khawaja Hassan from NA-130, Malik Pervez from NA-127, Waheed Alam from NA1-33, MMA’ s Liaquat Baloch submitted his nomination papers from NA-130, PPP’s Mian Zubair Kardar from NA-125.



On the other hand, 23 contestants submitted their nomination papers for total 33 reserved seats for the National Assembly. As many as 52 women contestants submitted their nomination papers for 66 reserved seats. Former PML-N minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu also submitted his nomination paper. Total 118 contestants have submitted their nomination papers for reserved seats for minorities.

PTI’s contesters Dr Yasim Rashid said the corrupt politics of Sharif brothers was taking last breath and those rulers who used to inaugurate one project for at least four times would not be able to fool the public again. She said those who benefited Sharifs’ families and their processions and rallies by using the fund, state machinery would also be answerable.

She said people have seen the Sharifs’ politics and they are fully aware the Sharifs did nothing for the poor masses. She said they did not do ‘politics of slogans’ adding they do politics for the betterment of the country and ensure all facilities to the poor masses. “The whole nation is united under the leadership of Imran Khan. The corrupt politicians will go to jail,” she remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2018.