37,752 candidates in the run in K-P polls

The Provincial Election Commission has released the data of candidates in the run for the local government elections in the first phase of the polls in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to be held on December 19 in 17 districts.

There are 37,752 candidates in total. Around 1,006 candidates had submitted their papers for tehsil chairman and mayor seats in which 977 were approved during scrutiny by the Election Commission. The papers of 29 candidates were rejected on technical ground. But later 284 contestants decided to withdraw their papers and now 689 are left in the fray.

On the other hand, around 21,788 candidates had submitted their nomination papers for 20,881 village and neighbourhood councils in which 20,648 were approved during scrutiny and 1,140 were rejected. This has left a total of 19, 282 candidates. As per the ECP data a total of 4,220 women candidates submitted their papers out of which 277 were rejected and 3,943 were approved. A total of 151 female candidates later withdrew their papers as a result there are 3,905 candidates still in the contest.

For mazdoor kisan seats, a total of 8,078 candidates submitted their papers in which 419 were rejected due to various technical issues and 7,659 were accepted. Similarly, 322 candidates withdrew their papers. So there are a total of 7,513 candidates in the run now.

On youth seats a record number of 6,804 candidates submitted their nomination papers out of which 643 were rejected and 6,161 approved. Around 180 candidates decided to withdraw their papers as a result there are 6,081 candidates left in the ring.

For the minority seats a total of 328 candidates submitted nomination papers out of which 36 papers were rejected and eight withdrew their papers so 282 candidates will face each other in the polls.

The Provincial Election Commission has also approved six colours for ballots. Official sources said that each voter will be given ballot papers of six colours for the December 19 polls. White colour will be for tehsil chairman or mayor, pink colour for female candidates and light green for kisan candidates. Similarly, brown colour will be for minority candidates and yellow for youth.

SOP violations

The ruling PTI has completely ignored the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan for the local government polls in K-P. PTI MPAs and provincial ministers are openly engaged in electioneering for party candidates.

“Not only MPAs and ministers are openly running election campaign for their candidates but also the pictures of prime minister and chief ministers have been printed on the posters to lure voters,” said a candidate while talking to The Express Tribune, adding that as per the SOPs issued by ECP no provincial minister, CM or PM can run the election campaign.

He blamed that corner meetings are being held at the residence of MPAs and ministers without any obstacles.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2021.