ISLAMABAD: The filing of nomination papers by candidates for the upcoming national elections in Pakistan gained momentum today, Sunday, shortly before the deadline to submit them expired, with several top politicians submitting their documents to contest the polls scheduled for February 8.

Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has filed his nominations for National Assembly constituencies NA-132 in Kasur and NA-242 in Karachi, while his elder brother and three-time former premier Nawaz Sharif will reportedly be filing his nomination for NA-130 Lahore.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has filed his nomination papers to contest the polls from NA-128 Lahore, according to media reports. Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party's Aleem Khan has submitted his documents for NA-119 Lahore, while Sharif scion, Maryam Nawaz, has filed her nominations from NA-119 and NA-120 in Lahore.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) earlier extended the deadline for filing nomination papers for the upcoming general elections till 4pm on Sunday.  

"As per the schedule, scrutiny of the nomination papers will be carried out from tomorrow to the 30th of this month," the ECP said in a statement on Saturday.

"Appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers can be submitted until the 3rd of January and decisions on these appeals will be made by the 10th of January."

A list of all candidates will be displayed on January 11 and the candidates will have the option to withdraw until January 12, according to the ECP. The regulator will then allot electoral symbols to candidates on January 13.  

Polling for the general elections is scheduled to be held on February 8.

The ECP has also given more time to foreign observers to submit their applications to monitor the polls, according to the regulator. They can now submit their applications from December 31 till January 20.