PESHAWAR: Political parties have fielded 84 candidates while 201 independents are contesting first-ever KP general elections that is presently underway for 16 seats in the former FATA. 

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has established 1897 polling stations (482 are for men and 376 for women, while 1,039 for both male and female voters: 554 have been declared highly sensitive and 461 sensitive)  where 2.8 million residents (1.67 million men and 1.13 million women) of KP’s merged tribal districts are expected to vote. 

NPTV correspondent has reported that people had reached the polling stations early in the morning where voting commenced at 8AM. Voters were given nine hours to vote and the polling will stop at 5PM. 

Political parties that have fielded their candidates include PTI,  JUI-F, ANP, PPP-P, JI, PML-N,  QWP. Among ladies ANP’s Naheed Afridi  is contesting in PK-106 Khyber-I while JI’s  Malasa is contesting election in PK-109 Kurram-II.

Though ECP has also established complaint centers at its secretariat in Islamabad as well as Peshawar office, according to officials no complaint has so far been registered.