The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially unveiled the entire list of candidates for the forthcoming general elections scheduled to be held on February 8, 2024.
A total of 17,816 candidates have entered the election race, representing a varied mix that includes four transgender people and a large number of women.
According to the breakdown of candidates, there are 1,780 male and 93 female candidates from various political parties in the National Assembly's 266 constituencies. In addition, 3,027 independent candidates have entered the race, including 2,219 men, 219 women, and two transgender people.
There are a total of 5,121 candidates running for general seats in the National Assembly. Among these candidates, 4,806 are men, 312 are women, and 2 are transgender people, demonstrating a diversified representation in the political process.
Moving on to the provincial assembly, the data shows that 6,710 candidates will run for seats in the Punjab Assembly, 2,878 in the Sindh Assembly, 1,834 in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, including two transgenders, and 1,273 in the Balochistan Assembly.
In total, the ECP's report reveals a total of 12,695 candidates competing in the electoral race throughout the four provincial assemblies. With the addition of the National Assembly, a total of 17,816 candidates will compete for general seats in both the national and provincial assemblies. The varied field of candidates indicates an active and dynamic political scene as the country approaches the crucial election.