PPP leaders are reported to have encouraged Bilawal Bhutto, who has also obtained nomination papers for the NA-194 constituency in Larkana, to run for elections in Lahore.
According to the election schedule, candidates could file their nomination papers with the respective returning officers from December 20 to 22, and the names of all nominated candidates would be published on December 23.
The electoral body’s guidelines state that a candidate must be accompanied by two voters from the same constituency to propose and second his nomination. However, no individual can propose or second more than one candidate.
Furthermore, major political parties, including PML-N and MQM-P, have requested an extension of the December 22 deadline to file nomination papers for the upcoming general elections.
Election schedule
According to the ECP’s election schedule, nomination papers could be filed with respective returning officers by the candidates on December 20-22, 2023, while the names of all nominated candidates would be published on December 23.
Similarly, December 24-30 has been set as the last date for filing appeals against decisions of the Returning Officers regarding the rejection or acceptance of nomination papers, with the last date for deciding appeals by the Appellate Tribunal being January 03, 2024.
The last date for deciding appeals against decisions of the Returning Officers regarding the acceptance or rejection of appeals by the appellate tribunal is January 10, 2024, while a revised list of candidates would be published on January 11.
The publication of the revised list of candidates has been scheduled for January 12, with election symbols being allotted to candidates on January 13, and polling to be held on February 08, 2024.
This election program would also apply to the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan provinces. The last date for filing a separate priority list for seats reserved for women and non-Muslims before the Returning Officer is December 22, 2023.