The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will today (Wednesday) begin the process of scrutiny of nomination papers filed by party candidates for the Senate elections to be held on March 3.

According to details, the ECP will scrutinize the nomination papers of candidates. 170 candidates have submitted nomination papers including 39 candidates from Sindh, 29 from Punjab, 51 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 41 from Balochistan, and 10 from the federal capital.

Overall 87 papers were filed for general seats, 35 for seats reserved for ulema and technocrats, 40 for women-specific seats, and 10 forms were filed for minority seats.

The scrutiny process will continue till tomorrow.

Once the process of scrutinizing is finished, the candidates can file appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers on February 20. The last date for disposing of these appeals is February 23. The last date to withdraw nomination papers is on February 25.

On March 11, a total of 52 senators in the house of 104 are set to retire. Senate polls will take place on March 3rd to fill 48 of these seats. 11 senators each from Punjab and Sindh, 12 each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and two from Islamabad will be voted into Senate.