Senate elections: 209 nomination forms received for 12 seats in Balochistan
Staff Reporter :
QUETTA: In Balochistan, 209 candidates have received nomination forms for the fast-approaching senate elections. No candidate submitted nomination forms on Friday, sources in the election commission of Pakistan said. The candidates from various political parties are testing their muscles to contest for the 12 senate seats.
Lobbying within political parties also at its peak to get tickets for the upper house. The process of receiving nomination forms in the ECP Balochistan chapter was underway since February 5. However, none submitted nomination forms on the first day.
All political parties testing their muscles to win maximum seats
All political parties have been testing muscles to win maximum seats in the upper house. The treasury and opposition benches are yet to make a formal announcement about finalizing their candidates. Senate elections are scheduled to be held on March 3 across the country.
However, Jamiat ul Ulema e Islam (JUI) spokesman, Aslam Ghori said the party has issued senate ticket to Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi and Khalil Ahmed Buledi on general seats, Kamran Murtaza advocate on technocrat and Asia Nasar has been issued ticket on women seat.
Ruling BAP is yet to finalize candidates for the senate
The ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) is yet to finalize the names of the candidates. Sources in the ruling party said former home minister, Sarfaraz Bugti, Hussain Islam, Sitara Ayaz, a former ANP senator, Ashok Kumar, a former National Party (NP), and others are expected to be issued senate tickets. The name of Dr. Ruqia Hashmi was also being considered on women’s seat in the upper house. The ruling party also conducted tests and interviews prior to finalizing candidates. The process angered some senior members.
BNP Mengal also in consultation
The Balochistan National Party (Mengal), the third-largest parliamentary group in Balochistan Assembly could not finalize the candidates for the upper house. “The party has not finalized the names of the candidates”, Naseer Ahmed Shahwani, the parliamentary leader of BNP said.
Senate elections: 209 nomination forms received for 12 seats in Balochistan
