Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has announced his intention to run in the forthcoming general elections from Lahore.
Bilawal, the former foreign minister, has secured nomination papers for the NA-128 constituency in Lahore, with plans to submit them following approval from PPP’s parliamentary board. Additionally, he has nomination papers for the NA-194 constituency in Larkana, but PPP leaders are encouraging him to focus on Lahore.
The election schedule permits candidates to file nomination papers from December 20 to 22, with the publication of all nominated candidates’ names set for December 23. Per electoral guidelines, each candidate must be endorsed by two voters from the same constituency.
Election Schedule and Extensions Requested by Parties
Major political parties, including PML-N and MQM-P, have requested an extension to the December 22 deadline for filing nomination papers. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has outlined a detailed election schedule, with deadlines for appeals against Returning Officers’ decisions and the publication of revised candidate lists. The final phase includes allotting election symbols to candidates on January 13, leading to the February 8, 2024 polling.
The election program also covers seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan. The deadline for submitting priority lists for these reserved seats is December 22, 2023. This comprehensive schedule underscores the ECP’s commitment to ensuring a well-organized electoral process across all constituencies and reserved seats.
