QUETTA: Nomination papers of 18 politicians desirous of contesting elections from PB-1, Quetta, were rejected after scrutiny by the returning officer on Thursday.

As many as 62 candidates had filed their nomination papers from this constituency. Out of 62, the returning officer conditionally accepted 44 nomination papers.

According to a provincial election commission official, nomination papers of Amir Ali Agha, a candidate backed by the Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen, were rejected due to age factor. He was 23 at the time of submission of his papers.

Nomination papers of 17 other candidates were rejected because their proposers and seconders belonged to other constituencies.

Other candidates whose papers were rejected included former PPP provincial minister Jaffar George, Imran Ali, Abdul Rehman Dahwar, Shamsul Islam, Mr Arif, Mir Hassan, Ziauddin, and Mr Ismail, an election commission official said.

They belonged to the All Pakistan Muslim League, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen.

The candidates have filed appeals in the Balochistan High Court.