ECP Seeks Nominations on Reserve Seats

News Desk

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has instructed candidates competing for reserved seats designated for women and minorities to acquire nomination papers from the relevant returning officers and district election commissioners by Tuesday, complete with the required payment.

This initiative seeks to simplify the process for candidates’ convenience; nonetheless, the submission of nomination papers to returning officers must be finalized by December 22.

According to the details, in the National Assembly, reserved seats are allocated for both women and non-Muslims to ensure their representation in the legislative body. These reserved seats are a crucial component of Pakistan’s electoral system, aiming to promote inclusivity and diversity in governance.

Reserved Seats for Women

Pakistan reserves a certain number of seats in the National Assembly specifically for women. These seats are filled through a proportional representation system based on each political party’s share of general seats. Political parties submit a list of their nominated female candidates, and seats are allocated to parties based on their overall electoral performance.

This system allows for women from various parties to enter the National Assembly, ensuring a minimum representation of women in the legislative body regardless of direct election outcomes.

Reserved Seats for Non-Muslims

Seats are also reserved for non-Muslims in the National Assembly. This provision ensures that minority communities, including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and others, have representation in Pakistan’s highest legislative body. Like the reserved seats for women, these positions are allocated through a proportional representation mechanism based on the share of general seats won by each political party.

The inclusion of reserved seats for women and non-Muslims acknowledges the importance of diverse voices in shaping policies and laws that represent the interests of all segments of Pakistani society. These reserved seats aim to bridge the gap in representation and provide a platform for marginalized groups to participate actively in the country’s democratic processes.