LAHORE/DERA GHAZI KHAN: Up to 22 candidates submitted their nomination papers for two National Assembly by-election seats in Lahore, for which polling will be held on March 16. Also, 16 candidates filed nomination papers for the NA-191 by-elections in Dera Ghazi Khan.

The seats fell vacant after the acceptance of the “resignations” of Hammad Azhar (NA-126), Shafquat Mahmood (NA-130) and Zartaj Gul (NA-191).

For NA-126, nominations have been filed by Hammad Azhar, Hassan Irshad Dogar, Mehar Imran, Aurangzeb Burki, Agha Muhammad Ali Khan, Wajid Azeem, Muhammad Arshad, and Abdul Qadir Tariq.

Thirteen candidatures have been submitted for NA-130. They are Muhammad Majeed, Zeeshan Akhtar, Mubashar Imran, Shafqat Mehmood, Mukhtar Aslam, Shakeel Anjum, Shaheen Safdar, Imran Ashraf, Muhammad Nawaz, Rubeena Shaheen, Munir Ahmad, Shabbir Ahmad, and Ahmad Jawad Farooq Rana.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Up to 16 candidates have filed papers for NA-191 by-elections, which include former chief minister Dost Muhammad Khosa, former health adviser Hanif Patafi, Shibli Shabkhiz Ghori, Parveen Akhtar, Awais Leghari, Qadir Leghari, Syed Imran Shah, Osama Abdul Karim, Anas Abdul Karim, Zartaj Gul, Akhund Humayun Raza, Shabir Leghari, Ruqia Ramzan, Sharif Leghari, and Muhammad Khabib.

The names of the candidates will be displayed on Feb 9 and their scrutiny will be completed by Feb 13. Appeals can be made if the nomination papers are rejected by Feb 16 and appellant tribunals will settle appeals by Feb 20. The list of final candidates will be released on Feb 21, while on Feb 22, candidates can withdraw their nomination papers and the final list of candidates will be released on the same day.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2023