PML-N and PPP are among the six political parties that have been issued a show-cause notice by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failing to "award five per cent tickets to female candidates" for the upcoming by-polls, DawnNewsTV reported on Wednesday.

Other parties that have been issued notices include Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Tehreek-i-Insaf Nazaryati, Rah-i-Haq Party and Tehreek-i-Labaik Islam.

"Therefore, you are hereby directed to show cause as to why action under the law be not taken against you (sic)," the notice reads.

According to Section 206 of the Election Act 2017, each political party is bound to nominate at least five per cent women as candidates in polls.

The parties have 15 days to respond to ECP's show-cause notice.