Over 1,500 file nomination papers
Candidates submitting their nomination papers for Khyber-Assembly seat PK-8, Peshawar-VII at the provincial chapter of the Election Commission of Pakistan. PHOTO: EXPRESS
More than 1,500 candidates from various political parties, including MQM-Pakistan, PPP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, PML-N, PTI, JUI-F, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, and Central Muslim League, as well as independent candidates, have submitted their nomination papers for the upcoming 2024 general elections. The nominations have been submitted for 22 National Assembly and 47 Sindh Assembly seats in Karachi.
Moreover, PML-N candidates Haji Salehain Tanoli and Khawaja Shoaib have submitted nomination papers for provincial assembly seats PS-112 and PS-113. MQM-Pakistan's senior leader Mustafa Kamal has already submitted nomination papers for NA-242, the same constituency where Shehbaz Sharif faced defeat to PTI's Faisal Vawda in the 2018 general elections.
Read First phase of general election concludes today
The extensive list of nominations covers 22 National Assembly seats, 47 Sindh Assembly seats, 29 seats reserved for women in the Sindh Assembly, nine seats reserved for minorities, and 14 seats reserved for women from Sindh, covering seven districts of Karachi. The deadline for nomination submissions is December 24, with the preliminary list of candidates set to be published the same day.
Scrutiny of nomination papers is scheduled to take place from January 25 to 30, and appeals against decisions made by returning officers can be lodged until January 3. The decisions on appeals will be finalised by Jan 10, with the revised list of candidates to be released on Jan 11. The last date for candidate withdrawals is Jan 12, and election symbols will be allotted on Jan 13.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2023.