KARACHI, Nov 28: The nomination papers of 22 candidates seeking to return to the National Assembly on seats reserved for women were rejected by the Election Commission on Wednesday.

Sixty-one women candidates filed their nomination papers for 14 such seats in the province between Nov 21 and Nov 26. The total number of nomination papers filed for the reserved seats was 76 because some candidates submitted more than one nomination paper to the provincial election commission.

The nomination papers of 37 candidates were found to be correct and accepted by returning officer Qamaruzzaman Chaudhry, the Sindh Election Commissioner, on Wednesday, the first day of scrutiny of nomination papers filed against the 14 seats reserved for women in the National Assembly.

The cases of two candidates -- Mrs Soorat of the PML-N and Khursheed Afgan of the PML-F -- were deferred and will be decided by Dec 3, the last date for scrutiny of nomination papers.

Among the prominent candidates whose papers were rejected are, according to EC sources, former Sindh Ministers Dr Saeeda Malik and Dr Hameeda Khuhro, former senator Tanvir Khalid and Dr Huma Mir of the PML-Q, former MPA Naila Inam of the PML-F and former MPA Zareen Majid of the MQM.

The candidates whose papers were found in order and were mentioned in the lists provided by their respective parties, are:

Benazir Bhutto, Sheher Bano ‘Sherry’ Rehman, Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto, Nafisa Shah, Rubina Sadat Qaimkhani, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Farha Naz Ispahani, Ruqia Khanum Soomro, Surraiya Jatoi, Munira Shakir, Shagufta Jumani, Fauzia Wahab, Shazia Marri and Nafisa Munawwar Raja of the Pakistan People’s Party.

Ms Rifat Khan, Imrana Saeed Jamal, Shagufta Sadiq, Masooma Syed Zaidi, Kishwer Zehra, Naheed Fatima Imtiaz, Khushbakht Shujaat, Fozia Aijaz Khan, Shabina Talat, Rabia Jamal and Sabra Khatoon of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Ms Raana Shah, Reena Kumari and Saira Naseer of the Pakistan Muslim League-F.

Ms Kaneez Fiza Junejo, Gule Farkhanda and Rahila Tiwana of the PML-Q.

Ms Shabana Yusuf, Shaheen and Begum Salma Ahmed Shah of the PML-N.

Ms Farida Ahmed Siddiqui, Bilqees Muzaffar, Noorun Nisa and Perveen Khan of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Nuzhat Jatoi of the National People’s Party.