HYDERABAD, Nov 22: The president of the Larkana chapter of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Thursday obtained nomination papers for party chairperson Benazir Bhutto and so did PPP leaders Aftab Shaban Mirani, Syed Qaim Ali Shah as scores of aspirants for coveted national and provincial seats collected forms across the province.

The PML-F leader Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi, former federal minister Ghous Bux Khan Mahar, Syed Murad Ali Shah of PML-Q, former Sindh education minister Dr Hamida Khuhro, former provincial minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh and former provincial minister for power and relief Haji Altaf Hussain Unnar were among other prominent persons who obtained forms.

In Larkana, Mr Ayaz Soomro obtained forms for his leader for NA-204 (Larkana) and NA-207 (Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot). He said that he had received instructions to obtain papers for Ms Bhutto and then wait for further directions.

In Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts 73 nomination papers were obtained for four National Assembly (NA) and eight Provincial Assembly (PA) seats.

Only one candidate, Muhammed Paryal Bhatti, filed nomination papers for PS-36 (Larkana).

In Hyderabad, 60 forms were issued by different returning officers, which included three for NA-219, two for NA-220 and 15 for NA-221 and one, two, 15, 7, 3 and 11 forms were obtained for PS-45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50.

Prominent among the candidates are Dr. Irfan Gul Magsi and Pir Amjad Hussain Jillani who obtained forms for NA-221.

In Tando Allahyar, seven forms for NA-223 and 9 and 7 for PS-51 and 2 were obtained respectively whereas in Tando Mohammad Khan two candidates obtained forms for NA-222 while three and two forms respectively were obtained for the district’s provincial assembly seats of PS-53 and PS-54, respectively.

In Matiari, Dr Makhdoom Rafik Zaman, former Hyderabad district nazim, obtained form for PS-44 while 20 forms were issued for NA-218. In all 23 and 24 forms respectively were issued for PS-43 and PS-44. Twenty-three forms were issued for one NA and three PA seats of Jamshoro district.

In Sanghar, PPP candidates have not yet obtained forms while PML-F has finalised the names of their candidates in the district.

A local PPP leader and former nazim of Shahdadpur, Faisal Wassan, accused the PML-F of resorting to pre-poll rigging by getting arrested the entire district-level leadership of the party.

In Dadu, Dr. Ghulamullah Lund of PML-Q, Shabbir Ahmed Soomro, Mohammad Usman Jamali of PTI for NA-232 and district president of PPP-SB Ali Mohammad Jamali received nomination form for PS 74.

In Thatta, candidates belonging to PPP, PML-Q, Tribal Ittehad and an independent candidate obtained papers. PPP’s Imtiaz Qureshi obtained form for NA-237 and PS-85, Rehana Laghari for PS-86, Pir Noor Nabi Shah for NA-237 and PS-84, Zahid Hussain, an independent candidate, for PS-84 whereas ex-provincial minister Usman Malkani obtained form for PS-87.

In Naushahro Feroze, 262 nomination forms were issued for two national and five provincial assembly seats while in Khairpur, 24 forms were issued for three NA seats.

The president of the Sindh chapter of PPP Syed Qaim Ali Shah obtained form through his attorney. PML-F Sindh president Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi and others also collected papers.

Abdul Qayoom Shaikh advocate obtained form on behalf of Manzoor Hussain Wassan (PPP) whereas Liaquat Shar advocate obtained nomination papers on behalf of former district nazim Nafisa Shah.

In Shikarpur, a total of 120 forms were issued for NA and PA seats, including 23 for NA-202 and NA-203, 47 for four PA seats, 29 for two NA seats and 19 for four PA seats.

Former MNA Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Jatoi obtained forms for NA-202 and former defence minister and PPP leader Aftab Shaban Mirani and 21 others obtained forms for NA-202. Former federal minister Ghous Bux Khan Mahar and five others obtained form for NA-203. Former provincial minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh got form for PS-11.

In Badin, Sohail Akbar Mirza (PPP) obtained nomination paper for NA-225 and PS-58, PPP’s Al-Qandar Mirza for NA-225 and PS-58, PPP’s Dr Aziz Memon for NA-225, PPP’s Abdul Sattar Memon for PS-58, Noor Mohammad Bhatti of PPP-SB and independent candidate Ashfaq Ahmed Memon, Niaz Mandhro, Iqbal Khatti and Abdullah Sheedi collected forms for PS-58.

In Nawabshah, former MNA Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, ex-MPA Tariq Masood Arain, president of District Bar Association Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, president of Nawabshah taluka chapter of PPP and DBA general secretary Shiraz Unnar were among those who collected nomination forms.