Numerous women among thousands of candidates contesting elections in KP

PESHAWAR: A large number of women are among thousands of candidates, who have submitted nomination papers for 55 seats in the National Assembly and 145 slots in the provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the February 8 general elections.

As many as 94 women have filed nomination papers for 10 seats in NA reserved for women. Another 304 women are vying for reserved seats in the KP assembly. Many women are also contesting polls on general seats.

Offices of the returning officers remained packed on the last day of filing nomination papers on Sunday. The preliminary lists of the contenders from all the constituencies will be issued today.

In Peshawar, former federal minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf senior vice chairman Sher Afzal Marwat, former MNA Shandana Gulzar, Arbab Alamgir, Noor Alam Khan, Arbab Amir Ayub, Arbab Sher Ali, Nasir Musazai, Saqib Ullah Chamkani, former runner up contenders Arbab Kamal Ahmad, Misbahuddin are among the prominent candidates who submitted nomination papers for the National Assembly seats.

Apart from former MNAs and runner-up contenders in the previous tenure, a few new faces are also among the main candidates.

At least three MNAs in the previous tenure switched their loyalties and are contesting polls on the ticket of another party in the coming general polls. Former PTI MNA Nasir Musazai and Noor Alam Khan are candidates of JUIF in the polls while Shaukat Ali is a candidate of PTI-Parliamentarians. According to an official of the Election Commission of Pakistan, 94 women have submitted nomination papers for reserved seats in NA and 304 for KP assembly till Sunday. Besides, 74 candidates have filed papers for the seats reserved for minorities from KP.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities have told the federal government that KP is short of 42,000 personnel to ensure adequate security for the upcoming general elections in the province, which is faced with terrorism in many districts.

According to reports, the current strength of the police force in KP is 92,360 while the required strength is around 135,000. Earlier, the province had demanded a strength of 149,777 policemen for the polls duty.

Attacks in several districts of KP have recorded an increase in recent months.Reports said that over 15,737 polling stations are to be set up in KP for the polls. Of these, 4,812 are designated as sensitive, while 6,581 are deemed highly sensitive.