By-elections: There are over 230 contenders vying for 23 open seats.

ISLAMABAD In the forthcoming by-elections scheduled on April 21, 239 candidates were vying for 23 open seats in both the national and provincial assemblies, according to an Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) official.

In all, 239 people are expected to run in the by-elections; fifty of them are vying for open National Assembly seats. Notably, the ECP official stated that Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the first lady, has already been elected for NA 207 without facing any opposition.

He said that while 154 candidates were chasing their dreams in Punjab, a total of 23 people were fighting for the open seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. Zubair Ahmed Junejo won a seat in PS-80 in Sindh without facing any opposition.

There are twelve candidates vying for the vacant seats in the Balochistan Assembly. He further stated that the Commission is scheduled to start printing the ballots for the by-elections on March 30, following the completion of the candidate lists by the pertinent returning officers.

He said that provincial election commissioners have received the essential election materials. Furthermore, district and returning officers are carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the election schedule that has been set down.

According to him, the committee has continued to work closely with the ministries of defense and interior as well as local law enforcement organizations.

The Commission published the schedule for the 23 National and Provincial Assembly seat by-elections on March 13.

These elections, which are scheduled for April 21, include six seats in the National Assembly, twelve seats in the Punjab Assembly, two seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, one seat in the Sindh Assembly, and two seats in the Balochistan Assembly, he said.