A total of eight candidates have applied for two Senate seats of the federal capital, including five for general seat and three for technocrat seat. According to the details released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has nominated five candidates while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have fielded two and one candidates respectively for the Senate from Islamabad.
The PML-N candidates include Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo, Fareed Hussain, Chaudhry Atif Fazal, Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Dr Tahir Mahmood. The PPP has nominated Raja Imran Ashraf on general seat and Raja Shakil Abbasi on technocrat seat while the PTI has nominated Kanwal Shauzab on general seat for the Senate elections from Islamabad.
It is pertinent to mention here that yesterday (Saturday) was last day for filing of the nomination papers for Islamabad seats. Senator Osman Saifullah Khan and Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed are retiring from Senate after completing their six-year term.
Meanwhile, four people have filed their nomination papers from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), while last date for filing of the nomination papers is February 12. The candidates from the Fata include Hidayat Ullah, Mirza Muhammad, Shamim Afridi and Sajid Turi. The Senate elections are scheduled to be held on March 3. The members of National Assembly elect the senators from Islamabad, while members of National Assembly from the Fata vote for Senate candidates from the tribal areas.