December 17, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 6, 1428

QUETTA, Dec 16: A total of 142 candidates have been left in the field for 14 general seats of the National Assembly in Balochistan after 138 candidates withdrew their nomination papers.

For 52 general seats of the Balochistan Assembly, the contest will be among 541 candidates.

The Provincial Election Commission issued the final list of candidates after the expiry of the last date of withdrawals on Sunday night.

In all, 1,017 candidates had filed their papers for 51 general seats of the Balochistan Assembly out of which 83 nominations were rejected and 393 candidates pulled out of the contest, leaving in the arena 541 candidates.

The maximum number of candidates in any NA constituency in the province will be 18 who are in competition for NA-259 (Quetta). There will be one-to-one fight for NA-270 (Awaran-cum-Lasbela) after 10 out of 12 candidates withdrew their papers.

Likewise, the maximum number of candidates contesting the election for a provincial assembly seat is 35, who are in the run for PB-6 (Quetta-VI). The minimum number of candidates will be for PB-24 (Dera Bugti) where a one-to-one contest will be held.

After the withdrawals, 18 candidates have been left in the ring for NA-259 (Quetta), 13 for NA-260 (Quetta-cum-Chagai-cum Nushki), 17 for NA-261 (Pishin-cum-Ziarat), 7 for NA-262 (Killa Abdullah), 12 for NA-263 (Loralai-cum-Musakhel-cum-Barkhan), 8 for NA-264 (Zhob-cum-Saherani-cum-Killa Saifullah), 7 for NA-265 (Sibi-cum-Kohlu-cum-Dera Bugti-Harnai), 16 for NA-266 (Nasirabad-cum-Jafferabad), 6 for NA-267 (Bolan-cum-Jhal Magsi), 11 for NA-268 (Kalat-cum-Mastung), 11 for NA-269 (Khuzdar), 2 for NA-270 (Awran-cum-Lasbela), 9 for NA-271 (Kharan-cum Washuk-cum-Panjgur) and 5 for NA-272 (Kech-cum-Gwadar-I)

There are 541 candidates left in the contest for 51 general seats of the provincial assembly. In the following list, the number of the candidates appears within the bracket after the constituency concerned: PB-1 Quetta I (12), PB-2 Quetta-II (15), PB-3 Quetta III (11), PB-4 Quetta IV (20), PB-5 Quetta V (25), PB-6 Quetta VI (35), PB-7 Ziarat (9), PB-8 Pishin-I (14), PB-9 Pishin II (12), PB-10 Pishin III (21), PB-11 Killa Abdullah-I (10), PB-12 Killa Abdullah-II (8), PB-13 Killa Abdullah-III (9), PB-14 Loralai-I (7), PB-15 Musakhel (10), PB-16

Loralai-II (15), PB-17 Barkhan (7), PB-18 Sherani-cum-Zhob (12), PB-19 Zhob (10), PB-20 Killa Saifullah (10), PB-21 Sibi (8), PB-22 Harnai-cum-Sibi (6), PB-23 Kohlu (8), PB-24 Dera Bugti (2) PB-25 Jafferabad-I (9), PB-26 Jafferabad II (14), PB-27 Jafferabad III (10), PB-28 Nasirabad I (15), PB-29 Nasirabad-II, PB-30 Bolan-I (7), PB-31 Bolan II (4), PB-32 Jhal Magsi (3), PB-33 Khuzdar I (11), PB-34 Khuzdar II (17), PB-35 Khuzdar III (9), PB-36 Kalat I (14), PB-37 Kalat II (13), PB-38 Mastung-cum-Quetta (9), PB-39 Chagai I (8), PB-40 Nushki (5), PB-41 Awaran (6), PB-42 Panjgur I (7), PB-43 Panjgur II (4), PB-44 Lasbela I (2), PB-45 Lasbela-II (7) PB-46 Kharan (12), PB-47 Washuk (8), PB-48 Kech I (13), PB-49 Kech II (12), PB-50 Kech III (7), and PB-51 Gwadar (6).