(Daily Point) — The race to submit nomination papers for the upcoming general elections on February 8 is gaining momentum as the December 24 deadline approaches.
The Election Commission of Pakistan granted a two-day extension earlier this week following requests from certain political parties. Political entities were instructed to submit forms to the relevant returning officers for specific seats.
Among those filing nomination papers, PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz submitted hers for NA-120 in Lahore, while Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Javed Hashmi did so in Multan. Jahangir Tareen, Patron in Chief of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party, is set to contest from NA 149 in Multan. Ijazul Haq of PML-Z filed papers in Bahawalnagar, and Rehana Imtiaz Dar, mother of Usman Dar, submitted hers for NA 71, where she will compete against PML-N’s Khawaja Asif.
Other notable candidates include former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Mahmood Khan, who will contest from Swat, and a face-off in Karachi’s NA 242 involving Shehbaz Sharif (PML-N), Mustafa Kamal (MQM), and Qadir Mandokhail (PPP).
Reports of seat adjustment on NA 242 between MQM and PML-N were denied by an MQM spokesperson amid ongoing meetings with PML-N leaders.
The list of candidates is set to be released on December 24, with returning officers scrutinizing documents for invalidity from December 25 to 30. Appeals against the decisions of the returning officers can be filed until January 3.
