Final list issued: PTI fields maximum number of candidates for polls

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has emerged as the single largest political party which fielded maximum number of candidates for the upcoming general election by covering almost 90 percent of national and provincial assemblies' seats throughout the country.
According to final list issued by the party, it has awarded tickets to candidates for 244 out of total 272 National Assembly constituencies that make up 89 percent, and 522 out of total 577 provincial assembly constituencies (90.2 percent).
Unlike other political parties, 14 women will contest direct elections for National Assembly seats, while 24 women will jump into the fray for provincial assemblies' seats in a bid to give tough time to their male counterparts who are contesting polls from rival political parties.
The PTI has made electoral alliance by making seat adjustments in different constituencies with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain-led Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed-led Awami Muslim League (AML), Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Ijazul Haq-led Pakistan Muslim League-Ziaul Haq (PML-Z).
In its final list, the PTI has withdrawn ticket from its earlier announced candidate for NA-64 (Chakwal) Sardar Ghulam Abbas and awarded it to Zulfiqar Ali Khan.
Interestingly, Zulfiqar was earlier awarded a provincial assembly ticket by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Until Friday he was a PML-N's candidate from PP-23 (Chakwal-III). However, he managed to win PTI's ticket from NA-64 and subsequently announced to quit PML-N and surrendered its ticket.
On June 27, nomination papers of Sardar Ghulam Abbas were rejected by an appellate tribunal of the Lahore High Court (LHC). However, he had challenged the decision before the LHC and a two-member judge bench headed by Justice Muzahir Naqvi while suspending the decision of papers rejection fixed the case for hearing on July 3.
Though PTI's legal team is of the opinion that LHC is likely to reject nomination papers due to some apparent lacunas and lately the leadership decided to change its candidate in the constituency. The situation infuriated Abbas who is of the opinion that party decided the matter in haste.
"I joined PTI with a commitment and it was my wish that I could do something good for my constituents through the platform of PTI," he said in his address to his workers who gathered outside his house after the decision.
He said following consultation with his supporters he would announce his decision about July 25 election on Saturday evening. Reliable sources claim that PTI ticket holders from PP-21, 22 and 23, who are close political aides of Abbas, are also planning to review their decision of contesting elections on PTI tickets.
"Imran Khan has been my friend since 1992. He has lost his first wicket today," Abbas lamented, saying the decision to withdraw ticket from him was made by party's second tier leadership.
Similarly, on NA-176 (Rahim Yar Khan) Mian Ghous has replaced earlier announced candidate Makhdum Khusroo Bakhtiar. Bakhtiar was given tickets from NA-176 and NA-177. Now Bakhtiar will contest only from NA-177.
On a disputed constituency of NA-154 (Multan), party ticket has been awarded to Malik Ahmed Hussain Dehar instead of Jahangir Khan Tareen-backed candidate Sikandar Bosan.
In NA-10 (Shangla), PTI has changed its candidate. Now, ticket has been given to Waqar Ahmad Khan after withdrawing it from previous candidate Nawaz Mehmood.
For Punjab, PTI has fielded 285 candidates against 297 total seats in the province. Sindh province has 130 provincial assembly seats and candidates are announced for 98 seats. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has 99 seats and candidates are placed against 98 constituencies. There are a total of 51 seats in Balochistan and candidates are announced on 41 seats.