TAXILA: A large number of potential candidates, most of them belonging to PTI and PML-N, visited offices of returning officers (RO) in Taxila, Hassanabdal, Attock, Hazro and Pindigheb to file their nomination papers for Punjab Assembly elections.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has extended the date for filing nomination papers.

It has been observed that the majority of the candidates belonged to PTI, followed by those of the PML-N and the PPP.

Local sources said that the party tickets of most of the potential candidates were under consideration by their respective leaderships.

According to District Election Commissioner Umer Khattab candidates belonging to the same political party have filed their nomination papers and party symbol would be allotted only to those who succeedrd in securing the party ticket.

For PP-1, Hazro over 10 candidates, mostly from PTI, have filed their nomination papers. Prominent among them were former provincial minister Jehangir Khanzada from PML, Qazi Ahmed Akbar, Changaiz Khan, former special assistant to prime minister Malik Amin Aslam, Shamsher Aslam Khan from PTI, Jabir Ali Khan from JI, Mukhtar Khan from TLP and Tariq Nawaz from PPP.

For Hassanabdal PP-2, over 25 candidates, mostly from PTI have filed their nomination papers. Prominent among them were Awais Aslam Mirza from JI, Zulfiqar Hayat Khan, Siraj Gul Khattak, Ayaz Khan, Sardar Faizan Haider Khan from PPP, Sardar Mohammad Ali, Jehangir Khan Tahirkhali, Shamsher Aslam Khan, Akbar Khan Tanoli and Chaudhry Tallat from PTI, former member Punjab assembly Shahwaiz Khan, Sardar Iftikhar Khan from PML-N filed nomination papers.

For Pindigheb, PP-4, over 10 candidates filed their nomination papers and prominent among them were former provincial minister Muhammad Anwer, Azam Khan, Sher Ali Khan, Malik Saad Tariq, Malik Amant Khan, Malik Sameen Khan and Qazi Afzaal advocate.

For Taxila, PP-19, over 20 candidates mostly belonging to ruling PML-N filed their nomination papers.

For Wah, PP-20, Prof Waqas Khan from JI, Tamiour Masood Akbar, Malik Ihtisham Iqbal, Malik Azmant Mehmood from PTI while Liaquat Ali Khan from PPP and Safeer Alam from JUI-F were prominent among those who filed their nomination papers.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2023