ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday unveiled information regarding the contenders gearing up for the forthcoming general elections set for February 8.
An impressive total of 17,816 candidates are poised to partake in the upcoming elections, with 5,121 candidates competing for National Assembly seats and 12,695 candidates contending for provincial assembly seats.
A noteworthy 11,785 independent candidates are entering the fray for both national and provincial assembly seats.
Breaking it down, 3,748 independent candidates and 1,873 political party candidates are vying for National Assembly seats, while 8,537 independent candidates and 4,158 political party candidates are in the race for provincial assembly seats.
Moreover, 882 women candidates are actively participating in the electoral process, with 312 aspiring for seats in the National Assembly and 570 in provincial assemblies. Transgender individuals are also making their presence felt in the elections, contesting in four seats across the country.
ECP data disclosed a total of 6,031 candidates running for National and provincial assemblies, showcasing a significant participation rate. Independent candidates are nearly twice as numerous as those representing political parties.
Regionally, 6,710 candidates are vying for Punjab Assembly seats, while 2,878 candidates are contending for Sindh Assembly seats. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly seats have 1,834 candidates, and Balochistan is witnessing participation from 1,273 candidates.
It is worth noting that with the general elections just three weeks away, the ECP has not released the conclusive list of candidates yet. On December 15, the electoral watchdog released the election schedule, outlining the sequential procedures leading to the polling day, along with their respective dates.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
