KARACHI: The process of submitting nomination papers for contesting general election scheduled for Feb 8 next year picked up some momentum on the third day on Friday when scores of hopefuls turned up at returning officers` offices in their respective districts across the province to complete the first crucial step for their candidature.

Several prominent leaders and members of former ruling parties like former president of the country and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari; ex-Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and two other formerCMs and Grand Democratic Alliance leaders, Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Liaquat Ali Khan Jatoi either filed the papers themselves or had the documents submitted through their representatives in their constituencies.

In Karachi, senior leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal of Muttahida Q aumi Movement-Pakistan, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman of Jamaat-i-Islami, Khurram Sherzaman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and others filed their papers for different seats of National Assembly and Sindh Assembly.

Mahmood B. Maulvi of Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party and Qari Usman of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl also filed papers.

With two more days left in the deadline after its extension by the Election Commission of Pakistan, parties` sources said, the number of hopefuls was expected to increase on Saturday and Sunday.

In Sukkur, Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, submitted his nomination form for NA-201 and his elder son ex-MPA Syed Farrukh Shah filed the papers for PS-24.

Candidates of PTI, JI, MQM-P, GDA, JUIF, PML-F, PML-N, Sunni Tehreek and independents filed the papers for NA-200 and PS-24.

In Jacobabad, PPP`s Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani field the papers for for NA-190, Haji Sher Muhammad Mugheri for PS-1, Dr Suhrab Sarki for PS-2 (Thull), Mir Aurangzeb Khan Panhwar for PS-3 (Garhi Khero) filed the nomination forms.

In Ghotki, PPP`s Sardar Mohammad Bakhsh Khan Mahar, JUI-F`s Maulana Ishaq Laghari and independent Abdullah Gawani submitted the forms for PS-20 (Khan Garh), while PPPs Sardar Ali Nawaz alias Raja Khan Mahar submitted the papers for PS-21, and Sardar Ali Gohar Khan filed his nomination papers for NA-199.

In Khairpur, PPP`s ex-MNA Syed Javed Ali Shah Jilani filed the form for NA-204,Syed Fahad Ali Shah Jilani for PS-30 and Naeem Ahmed Kharl filed the nomination papers for PS-31 (Sobhodero).

In Dadu, ex-Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah submitted papers for PS-77 (Sehwan), PML-N`s Sardar Yasir Khan Babar, Gaji Khan Leghari and PPP`s Sardar Bandeh Khan Leghari, Sardar Chakar Khan Shahani, Sardar Qadir Bux Bozdar, Allah Bux Bozdar, Piral Khan Jamali, GDA`s Imdad Ali Leghari and Karim Ali Jatoi filed papers for PS-83 (Johi).

PPP`s Sardar Rafiq Ahmad Jamali and GDA`s Karim Ali Jatoi filed papers for NA-228 (Dadu-Johi), while GDA`s Liaquat Ali Khan Jatoi, who recently quit PTI, PPP`s Imran Zaffar Leghari, Irfan Zaffar Leghari, Sardar Ashraf Khan Solangi, Qamber Leghari and Fayaz Butt submitted papers for NA-227 (Mehar-Khairpur Nathan Shah).

GDA`s Sardar Ashig Ali Zounr and PPP`s Pir Mujeebul Haq submitted papers for PS-82 (Dadu); PPP`s Fayaz Butt, Imtiaz Butt, Kazi Abdul Waheed Mahisar and GDA`s Liaquat Jatoi and Sadagat Jatoi filed papers for PS-81 (Mehar). Again GDA`s Liaquat Jatoi, Karim Jatoi, Amir Hamza, Sadagat Ali Jatoi and PPP`s Aziz Junejo submitted papers for PS-80 (K.N. Shah).

In Nawabshah, former Sindh healthminister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho filed papers on behalf of his brother PPP cochairman, Asif Ali Zardari, for NA-207 (Nawabshah-I) and submitted her own form for PS-36 (Daur).

PPP`s Ziaul Hasan Lanjar filed his nomination form for PS-35 (Moro) while PPP`s Sarfaraz Rajar, Mashooq Ali Chandio, GDA`s Abdul Hakim Rajar, Khuda Bux Dars, Ghulam Dastgir Rajar and PTI`s Mohammad Aslam Jatt filed the papers for PS-41 (Khipro).

PPP`s ex-Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Sardar Usman Almani filed papers for PS-33 (Bhria City) and former MNA Syed Abrar Shah filed his nomination papers for NA-205 (Naushahro Feroz).

In Mirpurkhas, PPP`s Mir Munawar Ali Khan Talpur submitted nomination papers for NA-212 in Digri town, while in Umerkot PPP`s Syed Ameer Ali Shah submitted nomination papers for PA-50 while his cousin former Sindh education minister, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, and GDA`s Khizar Hayat Mangrio filed the papers for PA-49.

PPP`s Nawab Yousuf Talpur submitted the papers for NA-213, GDA`s Arbab Ibrahim filed the nomination form for PA-50 and PPP`s Nawab Taimur Talpur submitted his nomination papers for PA-51.