QUETTA, Aug 23: The filing of nomination papers for national and provincial assemblies started in Quetta and other areas of Balochistan on Friday.

Sixty-eight candidates of various political parties filed nomination papers in Quetta in two days for six provincial and two national assembly seats of Quetta and Chagai.

Prominent among them are: Sardar Faith Mohammad Hasni (PPP), a former Chief Minister Mir Taj Mohammad Khan Jamli (Millit Party), Provincial General Secretary PML-N, Khalid Dogar, and former Attorney-General of Pakistan Yahya Bakhtiar.

The acting President of PPP, Balochistan, Javed Ahmed filed the nomination papers for NA-260 on behalf of Sardar Faith Mohammad Hasni, who has been abroad for over two years.

However, Yahya Bakhtiar, Taj Jamali, and Khalid Dogar personally submitted their nominations for NA-259 Quetta.

So far 18 candidates have filed their nomination papers for two NA seats, and 47 for six PA seats of Quetta City.

Three minority candidates, namely William Barkat (PMAP), Anand Lal (PML-QA) and Sohail James ( PML-QA) also filed their papers for minority seats.

Most candidates are expected to file their nomination papers on the last day — Aug 24.