Senate Elections: Deadline for filing nomination papers ends today at 6pm

Deadline for filing of nomination papers for Senate elections ends on Saturday (today) as 52 seats fell vacant after the expiration of the 6-year term of the incumbent Senators. The nomination papers by candidates can be filed till 6pm. At center, till now PML-N leader and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar filed nomination papers.

The scrutiny of nomination papers will be completed by 19 March 2024. Appeals can be filed against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers till March 21, 2024. Decisions on appeals will be issued by the tribunal till March 25, 2024. Whereas, on April 2, 2024, polling will be held in Punjab Assembly Hall Lahore from 9am to 4pm. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) appointed polling officers for the Senate elections 2024 set to be held on April 2. According to the sources, the ECP appointed seven polling officers each for the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly. The ECP appointed 6 polling officers each for the provincial assemblies of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Earlier, PTI social media activist Sanam Javed will also submit nomination papers to contest Senate elections, as her father filed a petition in anti terror court (ATC) seeking permission for signatures of Sanam Javed on her nomination papers, reported 24NewHD TV channel. Amid last day to submit nomination papers for Senate election in Punjab, candidates can submit nomination in the office of Provincial Election Commissioner Punjab, Lahore. Sanam Javed’s father pleaded to ATC court that her daughter and PTI worker should be given permission to sign the nomination papers. Anti Terror Court judge Arshad Javed will hear the petition.

Earlier, PTI senior leader Aslam Iqbal has disclosed the names of contesting candidates from Punjab after consultation with party leadership. Senior lawyer Hamid Khan, Zulfi Bukhari would vie for Senate’s general seats on PTI ticket. While, Ijaz Mihas General would be PTI’s covering candidate on general seats. PTI has nominated former advisor for accountability Brig (R) Musaddiq for technocrat seat.

Meanwhile, Dr Yasmeen Rashid would contest the Senate election on reserved women seat. In Punjab, elections will be held on the seats of 7 general, 2 women, 2 technocrats and scholars, and one non-Muslim member of the Senate. Meanwhile, PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry has filed nomination papers for general seat from Faisalabad. PML-N has already issued ticket to Talal Chaudhry.

Faisal Wada as indpendent candidate, MQM-P's Abdur Rauf Saddiqui, Najeeb Haroon, Abu Bakar, Amir Hashmi, Shabbir Qaim Khani, Yasmin Dadbai, and Sabina Perven, and PPP's Musarrat Niazi

Reporter: Farzana Siddique, Jamaluddin Jamali