KARACHI: Syed Zafar Ali Shah, the lone candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for the March 5 senate elections from Sindh, took back his nomination papers on Friday — the first day of withdrawal of candidature.
Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional’s Faqir Muhammad Bakhsh Khaskheli decided to withdraw his nomination paper.
Both Mr Shah and Mr Khaskheli had filed their nomination forms on general seats.
Take a look: ECP okays all 28 senate nomination papers from Sindh
Saturday is the last day of withdrawal of candidatures, as 26 candidates are still in the field against 11 vacant senate seats in Sindh.
However, besides the candidates of the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, only one candidate from the opposition PML-F, Imamuddin Shauqeen, is in the run.
He had filed a nomination paper against a general seat.
Candidates could withdraw their nomination by 4pm on Saturday and afterwards the election commission will make public a final list of candidates.
Of the 26 candidates, 16 — eight of the MQM, seven of the PPP and one of the PML-F — are vying for seven general seats; six — four of the MQM and two of the PPP — are in the run against two seats reserved for women, and four candidates — two each of the PPP and the MQM — are contesting elections on two seats reserved for technocrats.
General seats candidates are: Babar Khan Ghauri, Gul Faraz Khattak, Khushbakht Shujaat, Mian Muhammad Ateeque, Nighat Mirza, Wasim Akhtar, Syed Aminul Haque, Syed Muhammad Raza Zaidi (MQM); Abdul Latif Ansari, Abdul Rahman Malik, Dost Ali Jessar, Gyanchand, Islamuddin Shaikh, Jeean Khan Sarfraz Rajar and Salim Mandviwalla (PPP) and Imamuddin Shauqeen (PML-F).
Women seats candidates are: Ms Shujaat, Ms Mirza, Seema Zarin and Tahseen Mashkoor Abidi (MQM); Sassui Palejo and Shama Mithani (PPP).
Technocrats seats candidates are: Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada and Muhammad Ali Khan Saif (MQM) and Abdul Rahman Malik and Farooq Hamid Naik (PPP).
Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2015
On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.