KARACHI, April 19: The Election Commission on Friday — the date fixed for the issuance of final lists of candidates according to the election schedule — failed to release the final lists, causing inconvenience not only to journalists but also to candidates and their supporters who paid repeated visits to the election commission offices and returning officers without success.

When officials at the election commission were asked about the inordinate delay in making the final lists available to the media, their reply was that they had not yet received the lists from the returning officers and the commission was not in a position to issue the lists.

However, the provincial election commission director, Mohammad Najeeb, conceded that they had received the lists but the final lists could not be released until the commission received their hard copy.

He said the release of candidates’ final lists, which were due to be announced on Friday, was not feasible because of certain candidates who had gone into appeal in superior court against the ruling of the election tribunals.

He said until the appeals were decided the final lists could not be issued. He added that not only the lists had to be prepared by the returning officers but election symbols also had to be allotted.

Criticising the election commission and the returning officers, Sindh PML-N Secretary General Salim Zia said the ordinate delay in provision of final lists and voters lists was affecting the electoral process.

“Now when hardly three weeks are left in the polling, the candidates and their parties found themselves handicapped in appointing polling agents and making other arrangements,” he said.

In contrast to the stand taken by PML-N leader, Sindh PPP secretary general Taj Haider said no doubt the final list was not issued today and delayed but the reason for the delay appeared justified.

“Until the fate of candidates who have gone in appeal against the ruling of the election tribunal is decided, it should not be expected from the election commission to issue incomplete list as final lists,” he provided.

According to the sources, district central was the only district in Karachi where the lists of the candidates have been finalised. The district comprises five constituencies of the national assembly.

After withdrawal of the candidates from the upcoming general elections, the names of the candidates in the run for the national assembly seats NA 243, 244, 245, 246 and 247 are:

NA-243: Syed Sohail Abidi (Arrow), Abdul Waseem (Kite), Zahid Hussain Hashmi (Bat), Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui (Bottle), Mohammad Yusuf (Scale), Riaz Khan (Duck), Raaz Mohammad (Stapler), Haji Abdul Nabi Brohi (Safety Helmet), Abrar Khan Baloch (Pitcher).

NA-244: Mohammad Tahir Khan (Arrow), Shiekh Salahuddin (Kite), Khalid Masood Khan (Bat), Haji Umar Baz Khan (Baby cot), Khalid Mumtaz Advocate (Bottle), Syed Mohammad Bilal (scale), Syed Yunus Hussain (Bangles), Tariq Mehboob (Horse), Abdul hai Shaikh (Ladder), Farhan Ahmad (Bucket), Mohammad Ishaq Khan (Basket), Matloob Awan (table lamp), Molvi Iqbal Hyder advocate (Balloons).

NA-245: Sardar Khan (Arrow), Mohammad Rehan Hashmi (Kite), Mohammad Riaz Haider (Bat), SM Bukhari (Inkpot with pen), Khalid Jamal Siddiqu (Ship), Khursheed Raja Asif (Iron), Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui (Scale), Rashid Naseem (Bucket), Sohail Ahmad Jameel (Basket), Syed Minhajuddin (Hen), Shakeel Ahmad advocate (Guitar), Mohammad Aslam Khan Khattak (Comb), Mohammad Khan Afridi (Cow), Mohammad Asim Ishtiaq (Eagle).

NA-246: Shahzad Majeed (Arrow), Sardar Nabeel Gabol (Kite), Amir Sherjeel (Bat), Rashid Nasim (Scale), Sohail Ansari (Bucket), Kanwar Amir Sami (Inkpot with pen), Mohammad Hanif (Suitcase), Mohammad Sohaib Farooqui ( Basket), Monem Zafar Khan (Audio Cassette).

NA-247: Mohammad Asghar Lal (Arrow), Sufyan Yusuf (Kite), Rashid Siddiqui (Bat), Ameer Ali Pattiwala (Kangaroo), Jawaid Ahmad Khan (Iron), Zahid Mohammad (Audio Cassette), Syed Arif Mustafa (Bucket), Syed Adnan Haider Jafri (Eagle), Farhan Ahmad Khan (Dressing Table), Mohammad Iqbal (Comb), Muhammad Siddiqu Rathore (Key), and Mohammad Tayyeb Hussain (Generator).