TAXILA: Many candidates filed their nomination papers for the upcoming general elections on the last day to do so on Monday.

Supporters and workers of various candidates and parties could be seen around the tehsil judicial complex, shouting slogans and some even beating drums as the candidates submitted their papers with returning officer Tahir Abbas Sipra, additional district and sessions judge. Nominations were filed with him for PP-19, PP-20 and NA-63.

Candidates from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) seemed more confident about the elections after PML-N stalwart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday announced that he will contest on two National Assembly seats and two seats in the Punjab Assembly as an independent candidate.

Monday was the last date for filing nomination papers while a preliminary list of candidates was also issued the same day.

Monday was last day for filing nomination papers, preliminary list of candidates issued the same day

The Election Commission of Pakistan had extended the deadline till June 11.

PTI vice president Ghulam Sarwar Khan submitted his nomination papers for NA-63 on the PTI ticket.

His nephew, Ammar Sadeeq Khan, the son of former Taxila MPA and ex-tehsil nazim Sadeeq Khan, submitted his nomination papers for PP-19 while an outgoing MPA from Wah submitted his nomination papers for PP-20. Both these candidates have PTI tickets as well.

Prof Waqas Khan, who won elections to the Punjab Assembly in 2002 from Wah Cantt from the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s (MMA) platform, also submitted papers for PP-20 and NA-63.

He is the expected candidate for the newly re-launched MMA - a political alliance of religious parties.

PPP local leader Amir Iqbal Khan submitted his nomination papers for PP-20 and Malik Shahid Nawaz for PP-19.

Faisal Iqbal, known as the Edhi of Wah and who leads a local political group, has filed nomination papers for the National Assembly seat as well as for PP-20.

Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan candidates also submitted their nomination papers. After announcing on Monday they he will contest independently, Malik Saeed Nawaz submitted nomination papers for PP-20 from his panel.

Aspiring PML-N candidates, including outgoing MPA Haji Umer Farooq, had already submitted their nomination papers.

As per the election schedule, the commission will release a publication featuring the names of all candidates by June 11. The returning officers will scrutinise nomination papers by June 19 and aspiring candidates can challenge the verdicts by June 22.

The appellate tribunal will take a final call on appeals by June 27.

A revised publication featuring all confirmed candidates will be released on June 28 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature and a revised list of candidates will be published on June 29.

The date for the allotment of election symbols has been set for June 30.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2018