PESHAWAR: The returning officers on Wednesday announced the schedule for the by-elections on the 16 seats of the National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which had fallen vacant with the resignations of the members of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

The 16 returning officers, in public notices, called upon the voters of the respective constituencies to elect their representatives.

The constituencies, where polling in the second phase of the by-elections will be held on March 19, include NA-2 Swat, NA-3 Swat, NA-5 Upper Dir, NA-6 Lower Dir, NA-7 Lower Dir, NA-8 Malakand, NA- 9 Buner, NA-16 Abbottabad, NA-19 Swabi, NA-20 Mardan, NA-29 Peshawar, NA-30 Peshawar, NA-34 Karak, NA-40 Bajaur, NA-42 Mohmand and NA-44 Khyber.

According to notices, nomination papers could be filed from Feb 10 to 14, whereas names of nominated candidates will be published on Feb 15.

Last date for scrutiny of nomination papers by the returning officers will be Feb 18, whereas the last date for filing of appeals against decisions of the returning officers about acceptance or rejection of nomination papers will be Feb 22.

The appellate tribunal will decide appeals by Feb 27, following which revised list of candidates will be released on Feb 28.

The last date of withdrawal of nomination papers and publication of the final list of candidates will be March 1, after which symbols will be allotted to the contesting candidates on March 2.

Meanwhile, the last date for submission of nomination papers for the first phase of the by-elections in eight NA constituencies of KP expired on Wednesday, following which the respective returning officers will issue the initial lists of candidates on Feb 9 (Thursday).

These eight constituencies, where polling will be held on March 16, include NA-4 Swat, NA-17 Haripur, NA-18 Swabi, NA-25 Nowshera, NA- 26 Nowshera, NA-32 Kohat, NA-38 DI Khan and NA-43 Khyber.

The respective returning officers will complete scrutiny of nomination papers by Feb 13, whereas appeals could be filed against decisions of the returning officers by Feb 16. The appellate tribunal will decide the appeals by Feb 20, after which revised lists of candidates will be issued on Feb 21.

The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers and issuance of final list of candidates will be Feb 22, after which election symbols will be allotted to candidates on Feb 23.

Meanwhile, eight candidates have filed nomination papers for the Haripur’s lone NA-17 constituency for the March 16 by-elections.

Similarly, seven candidates filed papers for NA-32 seat in Kohat.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2023