Nomination papers of 519 candidates rejected in KP

PESHAWAR: Nomination papers of 152 candidates for the National Assembly and 367 for KP Assembly seats have been rejected by the returning officers during scrutiny in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

As per the Election Commission of Pakistan, the nomination papers of 149 male and three female candidates for NA were rejected in KP.

Besides, nomination papers of 352 male and 15 female candidates for a PA seat were rejected for various reasons.

A large number of candidates of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf were among those whose nomination papers were rejected for different reasons. Many of them are approaching courts and other forums against the decision.

Those whose papers were rejected during the scrutiny included former speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar, ex-speaker of KP Assembly Mushtaq Ghani, former federal ministers Ali Amin Gandapur, Murad Saeed, Ali Muhammad Khan, Azam Swati, MNAs Mujahid Khan, Junaid Akbar, Gul Zafar, Shandana Gulzar, former provincial ministers Atif Khan, Taimur Jhagra, Shahram Tarakai, Sahibzada Sighbatullah, Dr. Amjad Khan, Fazal Hakim Khan, Mian Sharafat and others.

The scrutiny of papers was completed last Saturday. Appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers can be submitted till January 3 while decisions on these appeals will be made till January 10.

A total of 5278 candidates, including 578 women, had filed nomination papers in the general elections from across the province.

As per the schedule, a candidate can withdraw his or her papers till January 12.The candidates will be allotted election symbols on January 13.Polling for the general elections will be held on February 8.