Senate elections: only MQM candidates file nomination papers on first day

Only 10 candidates of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) submitted their nomination papers for Senate elections here on Monday, as no other candidate of any political party filed nomination paper on the first day of filing nomination papers. As per the schedule of Senate elections announced by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), candidates could file their nomination papers on February 13 and 14, 2012.
On the first day, only MQM candidates submitted their nomination papers to the Provincial Election Commission including Kanwar Khalid Younis (general seat), Kanwar Navid Jamil (general), Nasrin Jalil (general and reserved seat for women) Dr Farogh Nasim (general and technocrat), Arshad Abdullah (general), Naila Munir (Women), Arif Masih (minorities), Tahir Mushhadi (general), Umer Khan Ali Sherzai (general and technocrat) and Panjoo Mal (minorities).
All the MQM candidates together went to the office of Provincial Election Commissioner for submitting their nomination papers while their covering candidates and other leader and workers were also present on the occasion.
After filing nomination papers, former Naib Nazim Karachi Nasrin Jalil told media that her party leader Altaf Hussein had given party ticket to her for serving the country and the nation.
Dr Farogh Nasim said that Altaf Hussain gave him party ticket purely on merit, as he did not have any political background. Provincial Election Commissioner Sindh Sono Khan Baloch briefed media that only nine candidates of MQM had submitted nomination forms on the first day. He said that the candidates of others parties might file their nomination papers on last day (today).
He said that scrutiny of nomination papers would be carried out on February 16 and 17, 2012.
He said appeal against rejection of nomination papers could be filed on February 20 and 21, while the appeals would be disposed of by the Commission on February 22 and 23. Baloch further said that February 24 would be the last date for withdrawal of candidature while the same day final list of the contesting candidates would be notified.
He further said that poling would be held on March 2 at the building of Sindh Assembly. Officials of Election Commission Najeeb Ahmed Chandio, Navaid Aziz and others were also present on the occasion.