Senate polls: ECP to complete papers scrutiny today

ISLAMABAD: On the last day of scrutiny, the election commission found 18 nomination papers in order declaring them eligible to contest the upcoming senate election on six seats from Islamabad and FATA.

The nomination papers of FATA candidate Hussain Khan has been rejected as he failed to produce any proposer or seconder, an obligatory requirement for a contesting candidate.

While the papers of Dr Mazhar Hussain have also been rejected as he did not fulfill the set criteria of being a technocrat.

However, Dr Mazhar has the right to appeal and he is likely to avail
the facility.

A total of sixteen nomination papers were received by the ECP against four seats for Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). After the rejection of nomination papers of one candidate, now fifteen candidates are in the run for four FATA seats.

Against two seats in the federal capital, three candidates are in the run - PML-Q's Mushahid Hussain Syed, PPP's Usman Saifullah, and PML-N's Muhammad Omar Mughal.

While 15 candidates including Sahibzada Abdul Salam, Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Malik Abdul Rehman, Abdul Waheed Khan, Mohammad Saleh Shah, Aurangzeb Khan and Hilalur Rehman, MNA Munir Orakzai, Dr Abdul Qadir, Sajid Hussain Turi, Najmul Hasan, Jawad Hussain, Hidayatullah, Bismillah Khan and Abid Malik contesting for four FATA seats.

Additional Secretary Akhtar H Sabir has been assigned to supervise the FATA elections as Returning Officer.

Director General Elections, Sher Afgan would supervise the elections from Islamabad as Returning Officer for FATA elections.

As per schedule announced earlier by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the appeals regarding objections would be disposed of on February 22 and 23. The candidates could withdraw their nomination papers on February 24 and same day a list of eligible candidates would be published. Polling will be held on March 2.

National Assembly members will elect to Senate one member against general seat and other on seat reserved for technocrats including Ulema from Federal Capital. And National Assembly members from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) will elect to Senate four members against general seats.

The elections are being held on 54 seats, 50 vacated by retiring senators and four new seats for minorities created for the first time following the 18th Amendment.

Provincial assemblies will be electing 12 senators each, FATA MNAs four, while the rest of the National Assembly will elect two for the federal capital quota.

A total of 50 senators are being retired in March after completing their respective terms including 11 from each province, four Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and two from federal capital. (APP)