By-polls
Ambiguity persist in PDM over boycott the by-polls, ANP, PML-N announced candidates
JAVED KHAN
PESHAWAR
A total of 178 aspirants have filed nomination papers for the second phase of by-elections in 16 National Assembly constituencies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a senior official said.
According to schedules announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), by-elections on 16 NA seats will be held on March 19, while the first phase of by-elections on eight constituencies of the province would took place on March 16.
It may be mentioned here that the election watchdog in KP is holding by-polls for 16 NA seats, part of 33 seats, that fell vacant after National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf accepted the resignation 35 members, two reserved seats for women, of the National Assembly on Jan 17.
The 16 constituencies include NA-2 Swat-I, NA-3 Swat-II, NA-5 Upper Dir, NA-6 Lower Dir-I, NA-7 Lower Dir-II, NA-8 Malakand, NA-9 Buner, NA-16 Abbotabad-II, NA-19 Swabi-II, NA-20 Mardan-I, NA-28 Peshawar-II, NA-30 Peshawar-IV, NA-34 Karak, NA-40 Bajaur-I, NA-42 Mohmand, and NA-44 Khyber-II.
Dr Haider Ali Khan, Saleem Rehman, Sahibzada Sibghatullah, Mehboob Shah, Mohammad Bashir Khan, Junaid Akbar, Sher Akbar Khan, Ali Khan Jadoon, Engr Usman Khan Tarakai, Mujahid Ali, Arbab Amir Ayub, Sher Ali Arbab, Shahid Ahmed, Gul Dad Khan, Sajid Khan, and Mohammad Iqbal Khan were the lawmakers of PTI who vacated the above-mentioned seats respectively.
Almost all of them in fray in the by-elections as party has awarded them tickets for the contest from their respective constituencies.
There are 16 aspirants for NA-2 Swat, six for NA-3 Swabi , eight for NA-5, ten each for NA-6 and NA-7, Nine for NA-8, 17 for NA-9, 11 for NA-16, 12 for NA-19, seven for NA 20, Nine for NA-28, six for NA-30, 20 aspirant for NA-34, 15 for NA-40 Bajaur, nine people for NA-42 and 13 people have submitted nomination papers for NA-44 Khyber constituency.
The Returning Officers (ROs) of the respective districts will complete scrutiny of nomination papers by Feb 18, whereas appeals could be filed against decisions of the returning officers by Feb 22.
The appellate tribunal will decide the appeals by Feb 27 after which revised lists of candidates will be issued on Feb 28. The ECP in a statement has clarified that the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers and issuance of final list of candidates will be March 1.
Election symbols to nominated candidates for the second phase of by-elections in the province will be allotted on March 2. Polling will be held on March 19.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Democratic Movement, the ruling coalition, has announced boycott NA by-elections in a meeting.
JUI-F provincial spokesperson Jalil Jan told this scribe; “we (PDM) are not taking part in by-elections of the National Assembly”.
However, there was a difference of opinion among the key coalition partners of the alliance on the proposal as PML-N and ANP have fielded candidates for the by-elections in different constituencies.
Senior leadership of PML-N and PPP from KP seem wary of boycott decision and have opted to file nomination papers for the by-elections.
