PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued the final list of candidates for the upcoming by-election to a reserved women’s seat in the Senate from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of nine candidates will contest the seat vacated by Dr. Sania Nishtar of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
According to the list released by Provincial Election Commissioner Saeed Gul, who is serving as the returning officer, the by-election is scheduled for July 31.
PTI has nominated Mashal Azam, who will contest the election as an independent candidate, a move reflecting the party’s current electoral strategy. In addition to Azam, several other PTI-backed independents are in the running, including Sajida Begum, Sumaira Shams, Saima Khalid, Momina Basit, and Mahtab Zafar.
Opposition parties have also fielded their candidates to vie for the seat. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has nominated Sobia Shahid, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P) is backing Raheela Bibi, while Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUI-P) has put forward Shazia as its candidate.
This by-election is expected to be closely watched, given the political significance of Senate representation and the heightened competition among both PTI-affiliated and opposition candidates. The winner will complete the remaining tenure of Dr. Sania Nishtar’s term in the upper house of Parliament.
