A local election commissioner in Karachi said she filed papers in her name for a seat reserved for women. She will also file papers for the constituency of her family's ancestral seat in Larkana. Ms Bhutto, is allowing her party candidates to lodge their nomination papers ahead of Monday's deadline for registration, but has warned that they might be told to pull out in order to protest President General Pervez Musharraf's emergency rule. The decision to pull out will depend partly on what other Opposition parties decide, although Ms Bhutto has indicated she is in favour of taking part, albeit reluctantly.
"We should not leave the field empty," she told reporters on Sunday. Ms Bhutto said the return of Nawaz Sharif, is likely to energise the political process.
"With Mr Sharif's arrival, the political process will accelerate," she said.
"We welcome his return to the country, it will contribute positively to the political scene." Ms Bhutto returned home from exile on October 18 in 2007. She will be taking part in election after almost a decade.
Ms Bhutto, who lead Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has twice ruled the country between 1988 and 1999. Both times her governments were sacked by the Presidents on corruption charges.
The PPP is on a high and is expected to win or at least perform well in the January 8 elections. Meanwhile, on Sunday, PPP released final lists of the party candidates for reserved seats of minorities, for four provincial Assemblies and the National Assembly.
The party has nominated seven candidates for minorities' seats in the National Assembly, while nine each for Punjab and Sindh Assemblies and three for NWFP Assembly