ATTOCK, July 9: Election officials accepted nomination papers filed by 16 candidates, including Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, here on Friday, allowing them all to contest the by-election on the NA-59 seat.

The 16 candidates, including the finance minister, were present during the scrutiny of the papers by Additional District and Sessions Judge Attock and Returning Officer Sardar Tahir Sabir.

Among those, who would be contesting the NA-59 seat from Attock, are former Senate chairman Waseem Sajjad, Gohar Ayub Khan, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Malik Hakmeen Khan, PPP's Sheikh Ahsanuddin Advocate, Malik Sohail Khan of the PML-N.

In Mithi, Sindh, the scrutiny of nomination papers filed by candidates for contesting by-election to the NA-229 seat from Tharparkar began here Thursday. The Additional District and Session Judge, Mithi, Ghulam Mehdi Sangi, who is also acting as the Returning Officer, said that nomination papers of four out of 10 candidates had so far been scrutinised and endorsed.

Candidates, whose nomination papers were scrutinised, included Dr Mumtaz Ali Memon of the MMA, Mir Mohammed Buledi of the MMA, Gian Chand of the PPP and Dr Mahesh Mallani of the PPP.

The returning officer informed that nomination papers of six other candidates would be scrutinised on Saturday in the presence of these candidates. They include Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, former MNA Arbab Zakaullah, Haji Abdullah, Suhail David, Mohammed Meen Bajeer and Noor Mohammed Bhatti.

He said that the process of setting up of polling stations and appointment of polling staff would begin on Sunday.-APPs: Objections were filed against nomination papers filed by the PML's candidate, Shaukat Aziz, for the NA-59 Attock-III seat on Friday.

The returning officer, Additional District and Session Judge, Attock, Sardar Tahir Sabir, started the scrutinising nomination papers filed for the by-polls for the National Assembly seat.

Objections were filed by the Pakistan Communist Party's candidate, Jameel Malik, member of the Punjab Bar council, Sheikh Ehsanuddin, advocate, and Shahid Urakzai, a journalist.

After hearing of arguments of both the sides, the returning officer overruled the objections filed by Jameel Malik, Sheikh Ehsanuddin, advocate, and Shahid Urakzai and accepted the nomination papers filed by Mr Aziz. Later, Sheikh Ehsanuddin told Dawn that he and Mr Malik intended to file an appeal before the appellate bench of Lahore High Court against the decision.