HYDERABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has failed to issue the final list of candidates for the upcoming general election-2018 which was to be published on the website of the commission in accordance with the amended schedule announced by it on June 30.
Reportedly, the statistics published so far reveals that 3,459 candidates will contest elections for 272 seats of national assembly while 8,396 candidates will be going head-to-head for 577 seats of four provincial assemblies of Pakistan. The ECP has already allotted electoral signs to the candidates and political parties. However, the ECP data fails to provide names of candidates. On June 29, the commission’s website claimed that the list of candidates would be published on June 30.
According to sources, the returning officers (ROs) have sent the lists of candidates to the provincial election commissioners and for its publication in the Gazette of Pakistan. Meanwhile, the ECP further asserted that the final list of candidates is being compiled and it would be uploaded on the commission’s website as soon as possible. For many voters, it would be an important issue for them to cast votes on the polling day.
Published in Daily Times, July 4th 2018.