Race Against the Clock: Hundreds of Candidates Scramble to Submit Nomination Papers for Pakistan's General Elections

Hundreds of candidates are racing to submit their nomination papers before the deadline for the February 8 general elections in Pakistan. The nomination process began on December 20 and was extended by two days due to demands from various political parties. The National Assembly's 266 general and 70 reserved seats and over 600 seats of four provincial assemblies are at stake. Political leaders such as Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, former Islamabad mayor Pir Adil Gillani, and others have already submitted their nomination papers.

Former significant political figures like Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif have also filed their documents, although Khan's chances of contesting the election are slim due to his conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party's fate is uncertain as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected its intra-party elections and refused to allow it to use the bat as the party symbol. Without a unifying symbol, it would be difficult for its candidates to contest.

The ECP is set to conduct scrutiny of the nomination papers from December 25 to December 30, and appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers can be submitted until January 3. The updated list of candidates is expected to be released on January 11, with the allocation of electoral symbols taking place on January 13. Foreign observers can submit applications to monitor the elections from December 31 to January 20, according to the ECP. This builds anticipation for the upcoming elections in Pakistan.