PESHAWAR: Twelve candidates have filed nomination papers with the Election Commission of Pakistan for contesting by-elections in three National Assembly constituencies.

The ECP on Wednesday released three different lists of applicants for NA seats from Peshawar, Charsadda and Mardan districts.

As main political parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, have announced that they won’t participate in the by-elections, only three candidates filed nomination papers for NA-31 Peshawar-V seat. They included Shaukat Ali, Ziaullah Afridi and Shakeel Ali Shah.

For the by-election on NA-22 Mardan-III, three candidates filed nomination papers. Among them were Ali Mohammad, Shoaid Alam Khan and Mohammad Waqas Khan.

Similarly, six candidates submitted nomination papers for NA-24 Charsadda-II. They included Faiz Mohammad, Sabz Ali, Akbar Ali, Alaf Khan, Saeed Ahmad and Aftab Alam.

The last date for filing nomination papers was March 14, according to a statement issued by the ECP here.

According to the schedule for by-elections on three NA seats, the returning officers will complete the scrutiny of nomination papers by March 22, while appeals can be filed against the approval or rejection of the nomination papers until March 27.

The appellate tribunal will decide about appeals by April 3.

The ECP has fixed April 3 as the last date for the withdrawal of nomination papers by candidates. The final list of candidates will be displayed on April 6, while polling will take place on April 30.

Meanwhile, the district returning officers on Wednesday took oath of their respective offices for by-elections on three NA seats.

The ECP declared the NA seats, including NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda and NA-31 Peshawar, vacant along with three from Punjab through a notification issued on Feb 24.

The six seats along with another from NA-45 Kurram were won by former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan during the Oct 2022 by-polls.

However, as the Constitution allows Mr Khan to retain just one NA seat, the ECP issued the notification de-notifying the PTI chairman for the six other seats.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2023