The campaign for the September 23 elections got under way on Thursday with 7,288 candidates in the fray for seats in the House of Representatives.
According to provisional figures issued by the Interior Ministry after nominations closed on Wednesday, 1,850 lists have been filed across the local and regional constituencies, putting the number of candidates at more than 18 for each seat.
There are more candidates in the local contests than there were five years ago. As many as 1,615 lists, comprising 5,505 candidates, have been filed this time, compared with 1,472 lists and 5,046 candidates in the 2021 polls.
PAM, Istiqlal, PPS and PJD have fielded full slates, with each party contesting all 92 local constituencies and the 12 regional constituencies reserved for women. Each has 305 candidates in the local races and 90 on the regional lists.
RNI is contesting all 92 local constituencies with 305 candidates but has put up 11 regional lists carrying 80 candidates.
USFP has fielded 90 local and 11 regional lists, while the Popular Movement is contesting 86 local constituencies and all 12 regional ones.
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Many sitting parliamentarians are back in the fray. The ministry counted 227 current members of Parliament among the candidates—224 members of the House of Representatives, including 20 women, and three members of the House of Councillors.
Women make up 36.47pc of the overall field, with 2,658 candidates. Most — 1,783 — are contesting the women-only regional seats, while 875 are running in local constituencies.
Women also head 121 local lists.
For the 90 regional seats, 235 lists have been filed, leaving an average of 20 candidates for each seat. The number of candidates is little changed from 2021, when 1,769 stood for election in the regional constituencies.
In all, 28 political formations are contesting the polls, including an alliance formed for the election. There are only two lists without a party ticket, comprising five candidates between them.
With nominations now out of the way, parties have until midnight on September 22 to canvass for votes. Polling will be held the following day.
