ECP releases roster of candidates contesting in polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday released details about the candidates gearing up for the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8.

A staggering total of 17,816 candidates are set to participate in the forthcoming elections, with 5,121 candidates vying for National Assembly seats and 12,695 candidates contending for provincial assembly seats.

A notable 11,785 independent candidates are throwing their hats into the ring for both national and provincial assembly seats.

Breaking it down, 3,748 independent candidates and 1,873 political party candidates are contesting for National Assembly seats, while 8,537 independent candidates and 4,158 political party candidates are in the race for provincial assembly seats.

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Furthermore, 882 women candidates are participating in the electoral process, with 312 vying for seats in the National Assembly and 570 in provincial assemblies.Transgender individuals are also making their mark in the elections, contesting in four seats across the country.

ECP data revealed a total of 6,031 candidates running for National and provincial assemblies, showcasing a significant participation rate. Independent candidates are almost twice as numerous as those representing political parties.

Regionally, 6,710 candidates are competing for Punjab Assembly seats, while 2,878 candidates are in the running for Sindh Assembly seats.Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly seats have 1,834 candidates, and Balochistan is witnessing participation from 1,273 candidates.

It is noteworthy that with the general elections just three weeks away, the ECP has not yet released the conclusive list of candidates.On December 15, the electoral watchdog released the election schedule, outlining the sequential procedures leading to the polling day, along with their respective dates.