PESHAWAR: After the withdrawal of seven nomination papers on Saturday, 27 candidates are in the running for 12 Senate seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The elections for these seats will be held on March 5.

According to the final lists issued by returning officer Mussarat Khan, who is also the provincial election commissioner, 12 candidates are contesting for seven general seats, six for two seats reserved for ulema and technocrat, six for two seats reserved for women, and three for a single seat reserved for non-Muslims.

The 124 MPAs are the Electoral College for the Senate polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Polling for the elections will be held on the basis of single transferable vote.

The candidates for general seats are outgoing Senators Haji Mohammad Adeel (ANP) and Waqar Ahmad Khan (independent), Aamar Ahmad Khan (QWP), Maulana Attaur Rehman (JUI-F), Sirajul Haq (Jamaat-i-Islami), Lt-Gen (r) Salahuddin Tirmazi (PML-N), Mohsin Aziz (PTI), Manzoor Khan (JUI-F), Liaqat Khan Tarakai (PTI), Khanzada Khan (PPP), Noor Alam Khan (PPP) and Syed Shibli Faraz (PTI).

Polling to be held at provincial assembly on March 5

The contestants for technocrat seats are Mohammad Yaqoob (JUI-F), Abdul Malik (QWP), Afrasiab Khattak (ANP), Engineer Humayun Khan (PPP), Nauman Wazir (PTI) and Barrister Mohammad Jawed Abbasi (PML-N), while those contesting for seats reserved for women are former MPA Shazia Tehmas (PPP), former provincial minister Sitara Ayaz (ANP), former Senator Fauzia Fakhruz Zaman (independent), Bibi Shafia (JUI-F), Sameena Abid (PTI) and Shaheen Habibullah (PML-N).

Three candidates are in the running for a seat reserved for non-Muslim and they include James Iqbal (JUI-F), Brigadier (r) John Kenneth Williams (PTI) and outgoing Senator Amer Jeet (ANP).

Those who withdrew nomination papers against general seats include Professor Mohammad Ibrahim (JI), Abdul Malik (QWP), Fazal Mohammad (PTI) and Barrister Salman Hameed Afridi (PTI).

Similarly, two candidates, including Abdul Lateef Yousafzai (PTI) and Shibli Faraz (PTI), withdrew papers filed for seats reserved for technocrats.

A single female candidate, Rabia Basri (PTI), withdrew her papers filed for seats reserved for women.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, a candidate could retire from the contest till Mar 4, but for that purpose he or she has to submit written notice to the returning officer himself or through his authorised representative.

However, his or her name would be mentioned in the ballot paper.

RO Mussarat Khan will supervise the polling, whereas director (elections) Talib Hussain, deputy director (elections) Khushalzada, law officer Riaz Ahmad Khattak, public relations officer Sohail Ahmad and election officer Syed Zahoor are the polling officers.

The polling will be held on the premises of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly on March 5 from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

The ANP and the PPP will be the most affected in the polls as six Senators of the former and five of the latter will complete their terms on March 11.

Both the parties now have five MPAs each. One JUI-F senator will also retire on March 11.

Published in Dawn March 1st , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play