PESHAWAR: Adviser to the prime minister on finance Shaukat Tarin and three candidates from the opposition side here on Thursday submitted their nomination papers for the Senate seat vacated by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf senator Ayub Afridi.

Despite having thin numbers in the provincial assembly, three candidates from the opposition parties, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Pakistan Peoples Party and Awami National Party, have also fielded their nominees for contesting the election.

Mr Tarin submitted his papers in the presence of provincial finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra and higher education minister Kamran Bangash who became his proposer and seconder, respectively.

ANP allotted its ticket to Dr Shaukat Ameerzada, JUI-F Zahir Shah advocate and PPP Mohammad Saeed.

Polling is scheduled to be held on Dec 20 in the provincial assembly building. Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be conducted on Dec 6, while candidates can appeal against acceptance or rejection of papers till Dec 8. The Election Commission of Pakistan will publish revised list of the candidates on Dec 11 and any candidate can withdraw papers till Dec 13.

Talking to mediapersons, Kamran Bangash said Shaukat Tarin’s vote had been registered in Mardan, as his wife also belonged to the district. He said PTI had 96 MPAs in the KP Assembly, who would vote for Mr Tarin.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2021