ISLAMABAD: Electioneering is picking up momentum ahead of the general elections to be held on the 8th of next month.

The political parties are holding public gatherings in order to win support of voters. Additionally, candidates are participating in corner meetings to engage with the voters.

A total of 5,121 candidates are in the race for the National Assembly seats. These include 4,807 male, 312 female and two transgenders. For the four provincial assemblies, 12,695 candidates are in the field including 12,123 male, 570 women and two transgenders.

The elections will be held on two hundred and sixty six general seats of National Assembly and five hundred and ninety three general seats of four provincial assemblies. Meanwhile, in Punjab, monitoring teams have been mobilized to ensure the implementation of the code of conduct in the province.

The District Monitoring Officer of Gujrat has imposed penalties on various candidates for violations of the electoral code of conduct. Qaisra Elahi from PP-31 Gujrat was fined 10,000 rupees for violation. Similarly, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir from PP-32 Gujrat was fined Rs 5,000, and Samira Elahi Rs 10,000. Rana Faraz Ahmed Noon from PP-226 Lodhran was also fined 10,000 rupees for displaying election material in violation of the code.

District Monitoring Officers of Nankana Sahib, Gujrat, and Mandi Bahauddin issued notices and warnings to various candidates.