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Nomination forms of Shehla Raza, Rauf Siddiqui, Haleem Adil approved

By Our Correspondent
June 19, 2018

Nomination papers of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other political parties’ leaders were approved on Monday, as returning officers and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) staff resumed the forms’ scrutiny after Eidul Fitr holidays.

‘People must decide’

Addressing the media after her nomination form for the NA-243 (East-II) constituency was approved, PPP leader and former Sindh Assembly deputy speaker Syeda Shehla Raza said her party’s chances to secure a considerable mandate in Karachi are bright.

Shehla said that after the restoration of law and order in the metropolis, people must decide who they stand with. She was referring to the MQM loosening its grip on the city and the divisions within the party.

She said that this time round no forced Zakat or Fitra was collected from the people, and credited her party for it. She added that even the federal government cannot be formed without the PPP onboard.

‘No more divisions’

Nomination forms of MQM-P leader and former minister Rauf Siddiqui for the National Assembly constituencies of NA-243 and NA-244 (East-III) were also approved.

Siddiqui claimed that his party faces no more divisions and will participate in the general elections with full momentum. He said the elections are likely to be fair, in which case his party will secure victory.  

‘Sattar still the chief’

Nomination forms of Dr Farooq Sattar-led MQM-P PIB Colony faction’s Kamran Tessori for the provincial assembly constituencies of PS-104 (East-VI) and  (Central-V) were also approved.

Talking to the media, Tessori said that in his view, Sattar is still the convener of the MQM-P. When asked if the party will award him a ticket, he said: “Let’s see what happens now, after Sattar went to the Bahadurabad group.”

The MQM-P had split into the PIB Colony and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui-led Bahadurabad factions on February 5, apparently over the issue of awarding tickets for the Senate elections in March.

This past Friday, however, Sattar went to the Bahadurabad group in a bid to reconcile with them before the July 25 elections, given that the split has been hurting the party workers’ sentiments as well as their politics.

‘Karachi wants us to win’

PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh, after his nomination form for PS-99 (East-I) was approved, criticised the PPP for “not even providing potable water to the people of Sindh, despite being in power for more than a decade”.

Sheikh said the people of Karachi are fed up with the PPP and the MQM-P, adding that they want the PTI to win the polls in the city. He claimed that PTI Chairman Imran Khan is going to become the next prime minister.  

Schedule and statistics

According to the ECP’s schedule, scrutiny of the nomination forms, which started on June 12, will continue until June 19. The aspirants can file their appeals against the returning officers’ decisions by June 22.

The last date to move the appellate tribunal is June 27. The revised list will be issued on June 28. The last date for withdrawal of one’s nomination is June 29. The election symbols will be allotted on June 30.

According to unofficial reports, around 570 forms have been received for 21 NA seats and more than 1,200 for 44 provincial assembly seats in Karachi.

Similarly, 76 forms for the reserved seats for women in the NA, 213 forms for the same seats in the PA and 110 forms for the reserved seats for minorities in the PA have been submitted.

On June 14 the nomination paper of Sattar for NA-241 was approved by the returning officer, and the decision on his nomination for NA-247 was withheld until June 19. He had submitted forms to contest the elections in three constituencies, including NA-245, for which he will have to appear in court again.

The returning officers also approved the nomination forms of the MQM-P’s Kanwar Naveed Jamil for PS-126, Khawaja Izharul Hasan for PS-124 and Tessori for NA-255 and PS-96, the Mohajir Ittehad Tehreek’s Salim Haider for NA-254, the Pak Sarzameen Party’s (PSP) Hassan Sabir for PS-104 and the PTI’s Ali Zaidi for NA-244.

On June 13 Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed’s nomination papers for NA-240 (Korangi-II) and NA-254 (Central-II) were approved. This is the first time in years that he is contesting an election. He remained in jail for more than seven years between 2004 and 2011.

The returning officers also approved PPP leader Saeed Ghani’s nomination forms for NA-244 (East-III) and PS-104 (East-VI). Ghani said the people of the city will repose their confidence in PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari by electing him and his team.

The nomination forms of the MQM-P’s Aminul Haque for NA-252 (West-V) and Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan for NA-240 (Korangi-II), the PSP’s Ashaq Mangi for NA-239 (Korangi-I) and Hassan Sabir for NA-242 (East-I), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Maulana Tanveerul Haq Thanvi for NA-253 (Central-I) and the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s Tahir Iqbal for NA-241 (Korangi-III) were also approved.