Election fever grips parties as country enters final phase

Candidates hit campaign trail; PTI navigates symbol mix-up

LAHORE:

As the dust on the allocation of election symbols to political parties settled on Sunday, the stage is set for the penultimate phase of preparations with candidates rolling up their sleeves to plunge headfirst into canvassing season beginning today.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also set in motion the printing of ballot papers [Form 33], featuring the names of candidates alongside their respective electoral symbols.

The printing is slated for completion by February 3. Subsequently, the ECP will oversee the secure delivery of the ballots to every district, entrusting the task to the Pakistan Army.

However, as the political parties prepare for campaigning, the PTI has found itself in a symbolic quandary as the ECP has assigned a mishmash of electoral symbols to its candidates.

The symbols, including a bowl, shoe, harmonium, 'chimta' (tongs), and kettle, have been allotted to PTI candidates, a departure from the party's iconic ‘bat’ symbol that has been rescinded.

The electoral body also unveiled the final list of contenders for both National and provincial assembly positions in Lahore, featuring 266 individuals competing for the 14 seats available in the lower house of parliament.

Similarly, in a bid to ensure the smooth and transparent conduct of the electoral process, orders have been dispatched to police officers to ramp up security measures.

Police authorities have received directives to establish robust security clusters at polling stations, strategically identifying sensitive locations that may require the deployment of the Pakistan Army, Rangers, and the Quick Response Force (QRF).

Police officers are also tasked with furnishing details on the requisite number of closed-circuit TV cameras needed at highly sensitive and sensitive polling stations falling under the A category.

Meanwhile, the returning officers (ROs) also wrapped up the scrutiny of nomination papers for seats reserved for women and minorities in the national and four provincial assemblies.

Following the schedule outlined by the ECP, the window for appeals regarding the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers by ROs is open until January 16 (tomorrow).

The appellate tribunal will then take up these appeals for consideration until January 19.Women, minorities

Besides, the ECP has unveiled the roster of female and minority candidates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Among the 70 candidates, 26 are vying for female seats, while 24 contenders are competing for the 4 minority-designated seats.

According to the ECP’s announcements, 27 candidates have contested for the National Assembly's women-reserved seats.

Read: Third resolution seeking delay in elections submitted in Senate

In the K-P Assembly, 70 candidates have contested for the 26 reserved seats for women. In addition, there are 24 candidates competing for the four minority seats in the provincial assembly.

Candidates throw hats into ringMeanwhile, the stage is set for a spirited electoral showdown in Peshawar, with leaders ready to zoom around their constituencies as a total of 321 candidates have successfully secured election symbols for both the NA and provincial assembly seats.

This includes 67 contenders vying for seats in the National Assembly and an additional 254 candidates eyeing positions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly across 13 constituencies.

Specifically, the contest intensifies with 15 candidates emerging for NA-28, 16 for NA-29, 15 for NA-30, 21 for NA-31, and another 25 candidates throwing their hats into the ring for NA-32.

Similarly, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) also issued the final roster of candidates nationwide, featuring a total of 479 shortlisted candidates from across the country.

The emir of the party, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, will contest elections from NA-44 DI Khan and NA-265 Pishin Balochistan.Maryam set to launch campaignSimilarly, Maryam Nawaz, the senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), is poised to officially commence the party's election campaign today.

The party's chief organiser will inaugurate the campaign by addressing the first election rally in Okara.
Preparations for the high-profile election rally at Iqbal Stadium in Okara are in full swing, with a grand stage measuring 30 feet in height and 80 feet in width in place.

The stadium is adorned with the flags of central and local PML-N leaders.
PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb shared that Maryam Nawaz's address will encompass key points from the party's manifesto.

She said that the elections on February 8 will mark a triumphant return of the people's victory, ushering in a day of progress and prosperity for Pakistan.Home vertical sub 1 and pak (FRONT PAGE)