Wishing for some petty schadenfreude?

Starting today, the scrutiny of nomination papers submitted by candidates for the July 25 elections has been initiated, and it is turning up some pretty uncomfortable stuff about some of our chosen representatives.

For example, the State Bank and PTCL have already unmasked around 100 bank defaulters and more than 1,500 people who have not paid their telephone bills.

Named among the bank defaulters are the PPP's Hina Rabbani Khar (of million-rupee Birkin bag fame) and Mian Manzoor Wattoo (former chief minister of Punjab).

Meanwhile, PTI's Murad Saeed, Ejaz Chaudhry and Zafar Ali Shah have been found to have — for some odd reason — defaulted on their PTCL bills. They each owe PTCL amounts ranging from Rs14,000 to Rs33,500.

The clouds of shame continue to gather: today was Day 1, and more skeletons are expected to tumble out of hopefuls' closets as the process picks up steam.