Senate elections: PML-F, PML-L and MQM candidates file nomination papers

Candidates of Pakistan Muslim League-Linkeminded (PML-L), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) have submitted their nomination papers for upcoming Senate elections to Provincial Election Commission here on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, which was the last day of nomination papers' submission, four candidates of PML-L including Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi (general), Yasmeen Farukh (women), Photomal Dileep (minorities) and Mangal Das Arwani (technocrats) submitted their nomination papers. It may be noted here that candidates of PML-L have mentioned their status as 'independent' in their nomination papers.
Sources in PPP told this scribe that leadership of PPP was in contact with PML-L Chief Arbab Ghulam Rahim to win his support for getting all the candidates from Sindh elected unopposed. They said that removal of Arbab Ghulam Rahim's name from the Exit Control List was also taken in wake of the Senate polls. MQM's Mustafa Kamal also submitted his nomination papers on Tuesday for a general seat. While, 10 candidates of MQM had already submitted their nomination papers on Monday.
PML-F Syed Muzafar Hussein Shah and Maghan Mangrio also submitted their nomination papers for general seats. They came to Election Commission's office for submitting their nomination papers along with PPP candidates. They also attended a meeting of joint candidates of the coalition parties held at Chief Minister House regarding the Senate elections. Provincial Election Commissioner Sono Khan Baloch told media that scrutiny of nomination papers would be carried out on February 16 and 17.
He said appeal against rejection of nomination papers could be filed on February 20 and 21, while the appeals would heard and 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 maintained 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.