ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: A total of 168 candidates filed nomination papers for 50 Senate seats by 8pm on Monday before the deadline for submitting nominations was extended till midnight.

According to information received from returning officers, 105 candidates had filed nomination papers on Monday — the last day of the three-day process. Of the 109 candidates, four submitted papers from the Federal Capital, 19 from the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), five from Punjab, 24 from Sindh, 13 from the NWFP and 44 from Balochistan.

On Sunday, 38 candidates had filed papers from the Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Fata but no one had filed papers from Islamabad and Balochistan. Likewise on the first day 25 candidates had submitted their nominations.

According to the schedule, scrutiny of the papers would be held on Feb 14 and appeals against acceptance or rejection of papers could be filed by Feb 16 before the CEC or any other nominated officer who will decide on the appeals from Feb 18 to 20. During the scrutiny, presence of proposers and seconders is compulsory.

Candidates can withdraw their papers by Feb 21 and the commission would publish the final list of candidates on Feb 22.

The election for two seats from Islamabad and four seats from Fata would be held on March 4 in the National Assembly while provincial assemblies would elect 11 senators each on March 6. New senators would assume their office on March 11.