March 14, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 5, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 13: The Election Commission on Thursday declared Qudsia Arshad of Pakistan Muslim League-N and Dr Naheed Shahid Ali of Muttahida Qaumi Movement elected on reserved seats for women in the National Assembly from Punjab and Sindh provinces, respectively.

The seats had fallen vacant after Begum Tahmina Daultana of the PML-N and Khushbakht Shujaat of the MQM resigned from the reserved seats. Both of them had been elected on general seats.

Under Article 8F (3) of the Conduct of General Elections Order, 2002, if a reserved seat is vacated by a member, the next candidate of the respective party on the priority list is declared as the returned candidate.

Aisha Khoso and Shamim Ara Panhwar of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have been declared elected on reserved seats for women in the Sindh assembly on seats vacated by Dr Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto and Shagufta Jumani of the same party.

Shagufta Sheikh, Rehana Ejaz, Nighat Nasir Sheikh, Rahat Ajmal and Rehana Hadees of the PML-N have been notified as successful candidates on reserved seats for women in the Punjab assembly.

The seats were vacated by Tahira Aurengzeb, Nighat Parveen, Khalida Mansoor, Shahnaz Saleem and Parveen Masood Bhatti, who have also been elected on general seats.