12,443 stay in run for polls
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Election Commission of Pakistan after scrutiny of nomination papers, 12,443 candidates have declared as validly nominated whereas 679 candidates rejected for upcoming general election.
According to press release issued here on Thursday by Election Commission Office, 61 candidates from federal capital, 1841 from Punjab for NA and 4,113 for provincial assembly, 940 from Sindh for NA and 2182 for provincial assembly, 526 from NWFP for NA and 1457 for provincial assembly, 170 candidates from Fata, 254 from Balochistan for NA and 899 for provincial assembly.
The statement said nomination paper of 3 candidates from capital, 133 from Punjab for NA and 353 for provincial assembly, 48 from Sindh for NA and 134 for provincial assembly, 32 from NWFP for NA and 92 for provincial assembly, 21 from FATAs, 20 from Balochistan for NA and 100 candidates for provincial assembly have been rejected.
As regards, for the seats reserved for women and non-Muslim in all 904 candidates have been declared as validly nominated by the returning officers of the Federal Capital and the four provinces.
At least 86 candidates (reserved seats for women) from Punjab for NA and 163 for provincial assembly, 39 candidates from Sindh for NA and 86 for provincial assembly, 28 candidates from NWFP for NA and 69 for provincial assembly, 16 from Balochistan for NA and 35 for provincial assembly have been declared validly nominated
At least 27 candidates ( reserved seats for non Muslim) for Punjab provincial assembly, 34 for Sindh assembly, 22 for Sindh assembly and 21 for Balochistan assembly have been declared as valid candidates for the election. At least 39 candidates (reserved seats for no Muslim) for National Assembly have also been declared valid members for general election.
The spokesperson further clarified that the above information does not include the constituencies related to district Swat, some of the constituencies of Tribal areas and Shangla where last date for filing of nomination papers was December 6. The neck-to-neck competition is likely to take place among stalwarts of various Political Parties contesting elections due in January from NA-55 and NA-56 constituencies.
People and Political circles are expecting tough competition among Federal Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Amir Fida Piracha of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in constituency NA-55.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed of PML-Q, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi of PML-N, Sardar Shaukat Hayat of PPP and Hanif Abbasi of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) are contesting elections from constituency NA-56. The Prominent Personalities of major Political Parties have also filed nomination papers to contest elections for Provincial Assembly seat from the same constituencies PP 11 and PP 12.
Raja Rashid Hafeez of PML-Q, Zai Ullah Shahid of PML-N, Khalid Nawaz Bobi of PPP and Maulana Abdul Majeed Hazarvi will take on each other in the upcoming elections from constituency PP-11 while Raja Rashid Hafeez was the successful candidate in the previous elections from this constituency.
Zohaib Ali Afridi of PML-Q, Shaharyar Riaz of PML-N, Zulfiqar Ahsan Malik of PPP and Chaudhry Hanif of PPP is contesting elections from PP-12 while during last elections in 2004 Amir Fida Piracha of PPP was declared wining candidate.
Tough competition is also expected among Chaudhry Adnan of PML-Q, Khaliq Hussain Bhatti of PML-N and Ishtiaq Mirza of PPP from PP-13 and Rahat Quddosi or Fiaz-ul-Hassan Chohan of PML-Q, Rashid Naseem Abbasi of PPP and Raja Waheed of PML-N from constituency PP-14.
All the candidates contesting elections for the seat of National and Provincial Assemblies on ticket of PML-Q from the aforementioned constituencies will win the elections if All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) announces to boycott the elections.