PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) suffered a setback Wednesday when the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected the nomination papers of senior leaders Murad Saeed and Azam Swati — the party’s nominees from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for general and technocract seats, respectively — for the upcoming Senate elections.
Furthermore, the ECP has rejected Mahmood Khan’s nomination papers, putting an end to the former chief minister’s ambition to join the upper chamber.
According to the electoral body’s final list of candidates, nomination papers for 30 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa candidates have been authorized for the Senate elections, with 16 for general seats, eight for technocrats, and six for women’s seats.
The development comes as the electoral authority prepares to hold elections for 48 upper house seats on April 2, which became vacant when the incumbent senators’ six-year terms expired on March 11.
Members of the Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sindh, and Punjab assemblies will vote on candidates for seven general seats, two women, and two seats for technocrats, including Ulema.
The Punjab and Sindh assemblies would also vote for one non-Muslim representative apiece.
Meanwhile, members of the National Assembly will elect a senator for one general seat and one for technocrats, including Ulema from the federal capital, the statement said.
