7,335 vie for Pakistan's elections

PAKISTAN, A total of 7,335 candidates are in the run for the national and provincial assemblies seats in Pakistan's upcoming parliamentary elections, the country's election commission announced here Monday.

The Parliamentary elections are set for Jan. 8, 2008. A total of 2,252 candidates will contest on the 272 National Assembly seats in the 342-member house. The other seats will be filled with special seats for women and minorities.

Officials said that the publishing of ballot papers started Monday and the process would complete by Jan. 5. The election officials have also started dispatching polling materials to the local offices.

Islamabad, Tuesday, Xinhua