PESHAWAR: Amid uncertainty about the July 2 provincial assembly elections in the erstwhile Fata due to a pending constitutional amendment bill, a total of 477 nomination papers were filed with the relevant returning officers for 16 general seats and five reserved for women and non-Muslims as Saturday was the last day to do so.

According to data released by the Election Commission of Pakistan, 438 nomination papers were filed for 16 provincial assembly general seats for seven merged tribal districts and six former Frontier Regions.

Three of the papers were filed by women against general seats in Mohmand, Khyber and Kurram tribal districts.

Thirty papers were filed by women for the four seats reserved for them and nine by non-Muslims for a seat reserved for them.

The nomination papers for reserved seats were filed with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Election Commissioner Pir Maqbool Ahmad, who is the returning officer for reserved seats.

Over 470 file nominations for July 2 elections

While the aspirants filed papers, an uncertainty prevailed about the fate of the elections for which polling is scheduled to take place on July 2.

“The National Assembly is likely to pass the constitutional amendment bill on Monday after which it will be transmitted to the Senate for its passage following which the National Assembly and Provincial Assembly seats in former Fata will increase,” said JUI-F MNA Mufti Shakoor, who heads the party’s parliamentary board for the ongoing elections.

He told Dawn that his party had played a key role in the proposed legislation as the other parties had proposed to increase seats from 16 to 20, but with his efforts, the number of proposed seats increased to 24.

Mufti Shakoor, who was present at the Provincial Election Commissioner’s office, dispelled the impression about delay in elections saying after the passage of the bill, the polls would be held within six months.

The highest number of 42 papers was filed for PK-108 Kurram-I followed by 41 papers filed for PK-101 Bajaur-II.

The papers filed for other constituencies include 25 for PK-100 Bajaur-I, 21 for PK-102 Bajaur-III, 23 for PK-103 Mohmand-I, 28 for PK-104 Mohmand-II, 27 for PK-105 Khyber-I, 29 for PK-106 Khyber-II, 30 for PK- 107 Khyber-III, 22 for PK-109 Kurram-II, 26 for PK-110 Orakzai, 28 for PK-111 North Waziristan-I, 26 for PK-112 North Waziristan-II, 35 for PK-113 South Waziristan-I, 22 for PK-114 South Waziristan-II and 13 for PK-115 ex-Frontier Regions.

Different political parties also submitted priority lists of their candidates for the reserved seats, which will be filled through proportional representation system.

The JUI-F has named former MNA Naeema Kishwar, Rozina Bibi and Sirajun Nisa for women seats, and Surriya Bibi for a seat reserved for non-Muslims.

Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian has named Chand Bibi and social activist Dr Begum Jan for the reserved seats, while Awami National Party has fielded Zeba Afridi, Dr Taslim Begum, Nahid Afridi and Hajira Bibi for them.

The Jamaat-i-Islami has given tickets for the reserved seats to Nazrana, Roza Begum, Razia and Zarshaida. Member of Sikh community Sarbat Singh has been named for the seat reserved for non-Muslims.

According to the election schedule, names of nominated candidates will be issued on May 12 whereas, scrutiny of nomination papers will take place till May 18.

Last date for filing of appeals against decisions of the returning officers of accepting or rejecting a nomination paper will be May 22, whereas appeals could be decided by the appellate tribunal till May 27. The last date to withdraw candidature is May 29, while the issuance of the final list of candidates and allocation of symbols will take place on May 30.

Meanwhile, 82 candidates both independents and nominees of political parties submitted nomination papers for the three provincial assembly seats of Khyber district.

Twenty-seven, 25 and 30 papers were filed for PK-105, PK-106 and PK-107 seats, respectively.

Awami National Party’s Naheed Afridi is the only woman candidate in Khyber district.

Also, 51 candidates, including a woman, filed nominations papers for two PA seats, including PK-103 and PK-104, of Mohmand tribal district on Saturday.

Rahila Shakeel Ahmad is the only woman candidate.

Meanwhile, 84 aspirants field nomination papers for three provincial assembly seats of Bajaur tribal district, including PK-100, PK-101 and PK-102.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2019