PESHAWAR: A total of 438 candidates have filed nomination papers for the upcoming provincial assembly elections in the tribal districts.
Elections in the tribal districts for 16 general seats, four women seats and one minority seat will be held on July 2, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) schedule. Out of 438 candidates, three women have also filed papers on general seats. The women who have filed nomination papers hail from Kurram, Mohmand and Khyber tribal districts.
Thirty more women have filed nomination papers for four seats specified for women and nine candidates have filed nomination papers for one minority seat during the three days specified for filing papers.
On general seats, elections will be held on PK-108 Kurram, PK-109 Kurram-Il, PK-110 Orakzai, PK-111 North Waziristan-l, PK-112 North Waziristan-Il, PK-113 South Waziristan-PK-114 South Waziristan-Il, PK-115 Ex-Frontier Regions, PK-100 Bajaur-I, PK-101 Bajaur-Il, PK-102 Bajaur-Ill, PK-103 Mohmand-l, PK-104 Mohmand-ll, PK-105 Khyber PK-106 Khyber-ll, PK-107 Khyber-Ill.
May 22 will be the last date for scrutiny of nomination papers by the returning offices, while May 27 will be the last date for filing of appeals against decisions of returning officer. On May 28, revised list of candidates will be published, while May 29 will be the last date for withdrawal of candidature and publication of revised list of candidates. Candidates will be allotted election symbols on May 30.
The candidates will have the month of the June for election campaign which will expire on the election night on July 2. The same programme will also apply to the four seats reserved for woman and non-Muslims in the KP Assembly.
Besides ban on posting and transfers of government officials, no government functionaries or elected representatives including a local government functionaries will not be allowed to announce any development scheme for the constituencies where the election is scheduled on July 2.
Meanwhile, a bill has also been placed in the National Assembly, seeking increase in seats of tribal districts. It the bill is approved and such amendment is made in the constitution, then the elections will be delayed in the tribal districts and the ECP will need to issue a fresh schedule.