PTI invites applications for polls in tribal areas

ISLAMABAD: The Pakis­tan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has sought written applications from members desirous of contesting elections to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly on seats of the newly merged tribal areas.

According to the party’s central media department, the head of PTI’s parliamentary board Arshad Dad met the party’s chief organiser Saifullah Khan Niazi and discussed the procedure for finalising names of candidates.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has already announced delimitation of the constituencies of tribal areas. Aspiring candidates may submit their applications by May 13. The application form can be downloaded from the official website of the party.

The applicants are required to file their credentials along with the application forms. Moreover, submission of a formal application is mandatory for seats reserved for women and minorities.

According to the PTI’s media department, applications of only the residents of tribal areas would be considered for reserved seats. The party’s three-member parliamentary board will scrutinise the applications and will summon candidates for interview.

The names of the candidates will be finalised after their interview.

The PTI’s parliamentary board comprises its Central Secretary General Arshad Dad, federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mehmood Khan.

According to the schedule announced by ECP, election to the provincial assembly on the 16 tribal district seats will be held on July 2.

The seats are PK-100 to PK-102 for Bajaur district, PK-103 and PK-104 for Mohmand, PK-105 to PK-107 for Khyber, PK-108 and PK-109 for Kurram, PK-110 for Orakzai, PK-111 and PK-112 for North Waziristan, PK-113 and PK-114 for South Waziristan and PK-115 for former Frontier Regions.

Four seats have been reserved for women and one for minorities.