KARACHI, May 11: Almost all important political parties have fielded their candidates in the by-election, to held on June 22, for the National Assembly constituency NA-255.

This seat has fallen vacant following the demise of Mehmood Ahmed Qureshi of Mohajir Qaumi Movement who was elected in the October general elections.

By Saturday, last day for filing nomination papers with the returning officer, Additional Session Judge Bashir Ahmad Khoso, a total of 18 candidates had filed their papers.

Some of the prominent figures in the contest are Dr Farooq Sattar, senior deputy convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s coordination committee, Aslam Mujahid of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Alim Adil Shaikh of PML-Q, Tariq Khan of PML-N and Mufti Ferozuddin Hazarvi of PPP.

According to the schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will be held from May 12 to 17 and appeals against acceptance/rejection of nomination papers can be filed by May 21 whereas decisions on the appeals will be announced by May 28.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 29and a final list of the candidates will be issued on May 30.

According to initial reports, out of the 18 candidates, four belong to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Mohajir Qaumi Movement each, and two each to Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Pakistan People’s Party. PML-Q, PML-N, PML-Z and PMA have fielded one candidate each whereas the rest two candidates are independent.

Muzaffar Ali Shujra, President of PPP, Karachi, told Dawn that Dr Naseem Oan Jafri and Mufti Ferozuddin Hazarvi had filed nominations from the PPP side. However, the decision on awarding ticket would be taken by the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy.