JI Unveils 243 Candidates for 266 National Assembly Seats

Image Credit: Sama News 

The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has disclosed its candidates for the upcoming general elections, unveiling a roster of 243 contenders for the National Assembly seats out of a total of 266. This revelation occurred in a press conference at Mansoora on Friday, where JI Naib Emir Liaqat Baloch elaborated on the party's electoral strategy.

Baloch stated that the JI has put forth candidates for 531 provincial assembly seats out of 593. Notably, the party has nominated nine female candidates for National Assembly seats and 22 for provincial assembly seats, showcasing an initiative to enhance women's involvement in the electoral process.

The distribution of JI candidates across provinces was outlined by Baloch, indicating that 45 contestants are competing for National Assembly seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 13 in Balochistan, 33 in interior Sindh, and 22 in Karachi. Punjab records the highest number of JI candidates, with 128 individuals running for National Assembly seats.

An intriguing aspect of the JI’s candidate selection is its emphasis on youth representation, as 62% of the tickets were awarded to young candidates. Baloch underscored the educational background of the nominees, noting that 88% hold graduate degrees, including engineers, doctors, and PhD scholars.

Baloch seized the opportunity to underscore the significance of free and fair elections, urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to rigorously enforce the election code of conduct to avert controversies similar to those witnessed in the 2013 and 2018 elections.