PESHAWAR: Provincial Election Commission (PEC) has released names of 121 validly nominated candidates of different political parties except Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in the province.

As Supreme Court has upheld the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan of stripping PTI of its electoral symbol, the names of its candidates have not been included in the list of eligible candidates.

A total of 492 candidates had filed nomination papers against three categories of reserved seats in the province but most of those papers were rejected as their names were not mentioned in priority lists of candidates submitted by political parties.

Under the law, no independent candidate can contest against the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims and it is a pre-condition that the names of those submitting nomination papers must be available in priority lists submitted by political parties.

Three lists of the 32 validly nominated candidates were released by ECP including names of 27 candidates against 10 seats reserved for women in National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; 70 candidates against 26 seats reserved for women in provincial assembly; and 24 candidates against the four seats reserved for non-Muslims.

Candidates of PTI dropped from list after party stripped of electoral symbol

The provincial election commissioner, Shamshad Khan, who is returning officer for the reserved for women in KP Assembly, and KP joint provincial election commissioner (elections), Aziz Bahadur, who is returning officer for the seats reserved for women in National Assembly from KP and seats reserved for non-Muslims in KP Assembly, have released the lists.

According to the lists, the candidates of Awami National Party for women reserved seats in National Assembly include Dr Noor Jahan, Shagufta Malik, Yasmeen Zia and Iram Fatima.

Similarly, Jamaiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan has also named four candidates in its priority list including two former MNAs Shahida Akhter Ali and Naeema Kishwar and two others Hina Bibi and Sadaf Yasmeen.

Six candidates of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) are included in the list for NA. They are former MNA Asma Arbab Alamgir, Naima Kanwal, Shaista Razzak, Dina Naz, Shaheen Sultan and Noor Sehr.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has named Dr Shaista Khan Jadoon, Sobia Shahid, Ghazala Anjum, Shela Bano and Ms Shaheen for NA seats.

The candidates of Jamaat-i-Islami in NA list are a former MNA Dr Samia Raheel Qazi, Ms Aisha, Balqis Begum and Inayat Begum, who is also a former MNA.

Similarly, Qaumi Watan Party included a single name, Faiza Bibi Rasheed in its priority list for NA.

PTI-Parliamentarians of Pervez Khattak has also included a single candidate, Sobia Rehman, in its priority list for women seats in NA.

A single candidate each of PTI-Nazriati and Mazloom Olasi Tehreek Pakistan of Sadiq Khan Achakzai named Mehreen Rauf Afridi and Shabana Saifullah, respectively, have been declared validly nominated nominees.

Similarly, 16 candidates of JUI-F are declared valid for women seats in KP Assembly including Rehana Ismail, Asma Alam, Naeema Kishwar, Sitara Afreen, Aiman Durrani, Madeena Gul, Rabia Shaheen, Neelofar Begum, Naheeda Anwar, Nageena Shad, Arifa Bibi, Bilqees Bibi, Shazai Tariq, Yasmeen Khalid, Dr Sara Khan and Rukhsana Bibi.

Eight candidates of PTI-Parliamentarians are on the list including Nadia Sher, Somi Falak Niaz, Dr Asiya Asad, Naima Aslam, Sobia Rehman, Anita Mehsud, Safina Bibi and Yasmin Fahad.

The candidates of Qaumi Watan Party are Faiza Bibi Rasheed and Tania Gul.

PML-N is having eight candidates named Dr Shaista Khan Jadoon, Sobia Shahid, Shela Banu, Amina Sardar, Faiza Mali, Afshan Hussain, Shazia Jadoon and Jamila Paracha.

ANP is having nine candidates in the list namely Khadija Bibi, Shahida Waheed, Sana Gulzar, Dr Kashmala Ameer, Shaheen Zameer, Shehnaz Raja, Dr Hina Mehwish Khan, Almas Jehan and Nagina Jan.

The candidates of Jamaat-i-Islami, eight in number, are Humaira Khatoon, Zubaida Khatoon, Iqbal Jehan, Ameer Bibi, Razia Aziz, Uzma Khatoon, Feaheen and Fauzia Yousaf.

Moreover, 11 candidates of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian are in the list including Nilofar Babar, Shazia Tehmas, Naima Kanwal, Mehr Sultana, Ashbar Jadoon, Farzana Shireen, Sajida Tabassum, Ghazala Atta, Asma Tariq, Dr Sawera Parkash and Aneela Shahzad.

It is pertinent to mention that Dr Sawera Parkash, belonging to Hindu community, has also been contesting on general seat for KP Assembly from Buner district on PPPP ticket.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024