Eight nomination papers filed by MQM-P, 13 by PPP
Twelve candidates of the Pakistan Peoples Party and seven of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan have filed their nomination papers with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the upcoming Senate elections.
From the ruling party in Sindh, seven candidates will be contesting for general seats and three each for seats reserved for women and technocrats.
Saleem Mandviwala, Sherry Rehman, Dost Ali Jessar, Jam Mehtab Hussain, Taj Haider, Shahdat Awan and Sadiq Ali have submitted the nomination papers for general seats, Palwasha Zai Khan, Rukhsana Parveen and Khairunisa have submitted the papers for women's seats and Farooq H Naek, Shahadat Awan and Kareem Ahmed Khuwaja have submitted the papers for seats reserved for technocrats.
Of them, all except Sadiq Ali filed their nomination papers on Saturday, when they visited the ECP in Karachi along with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
From the MQM-P, Rauf Siddiqi, Faisal Sabzwari, Abdul Qadir Khanzada, Khwaja Sohail and Dr Zafar Kamali submitted their nomination papers for general seats. Rauf Siddiqui, along with Syed Khizer Askari Zaidi, also submitted the papers for the seats reserved for technocrats. Moreover, Khalida Ateeb filed the nomination papers for seats reserved for women.
Besides, the ECP has extended the last date for the submission of the nomination papers to February 15. As per the new schedule, the final list of the candidates will be released on February 16, and returning officers will verify the papers over a course of two days- February 17 and February 18.
Candidates will be able to challenge the approval and rejection of nomination papers until February 20.
March 3 will be the day of voting in the national and provincial assemblies for the Senate elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2021.