RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD: The district election commission on Wednesday received and distributed nomination papers among aspirants to contest the February 8 general elections and more than 100 candidates got nomination papers, including Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Raja Tariq Kiani and others.

Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and his nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafique, who parted ways with the PTI, last month submitted nomination papers from two National Assembly constituencies in Rawalpindi – NA-56 and NA-57. Former Rawalpindi mayor and PTI leader Raja Tariq Kiani submitted nomination papers for NA-56.

As many as 21 candidates, including former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, PML-N leader Qamarul Islam, Naeem Ejaz and PTI loyalist Ajmal Saber received nomination papers for NA-53.

Similarly, 60 candidates, including Awami Tehreek’s district organiser Sardar Naseem Anjum from PP-12, PML-N leader Chaudhry Sarfaraz Afzal, Awami Tehreek’s Mirza Asif and Parvez Mughal have filed papers.

While Haji Zahirul Zaman of Awami Tehreek from PP-15, Ghulam Ali Khan, president of Pakistan Awami Tehreek Rawalpindi from PP-16, Irfan Majeed from PP-18, and Sheikh Rashid Shafiq from PP-19 received nomination papers.

According to a schedule announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan, nomination papers will be submitted from December 20 to December 22 and scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officers will be held on December 24 to December 30.

Separately, more than 345 nomination forms have been issued for the three National Assembly seats in Islamabad, but as of now, not a single candidate has submitted nomination papers for NA-47, NA-46, and NA-48.

The Islamabad administration said so far 130 nomination papers have been issued for NA-47, followed by 114 for NA-46, and 101 for NA-48. On Tuesday, the ROs issued 35 nomination forms for NA 48, followed by 34 for NA 47 and 13 for NA 46.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2023