Maryam and Sanam’s election contest unlikely as court rejects PTI activist’s appeal

• The court rejects the appeal against the acceptance of Maryam’s documents.
• Nomination papers of Hammad Azhar of PP-171 are approved.
• Court upholds decision to reject Sanam’s nomination papers.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Court of Appeal on Sunday dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Sanam Javaid’s appeal against rejection of her nomination papers, while the court acquitted the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Vice President Maryam Nawaz will contest the February 8 elections.

The court upheld the returning officer’s (RO) decision to reject jailed Sanam’s nomination papers filed from two National Assembly seats and one provincial assembly seat: NA-120, NA-119 and PP-150. Judge Tariq Nadeem announced the verdict on his appeals.

On the other hand, the court rejected an appeal filed by Nadeem Sherwani against the acceptance of Maryam’s nomination papers by the returning officer of NA-119.

On December 19, Sanam filed her nomination papers announcing that she would contest the elections against Maryam Nawaz from the Lahore provincial assembly seat, PP-150.

Sanam is among dozens of PTI workers and leaders who are detained in connection with the May 9 riots that broke out following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a corruption case.

She was prosecuted in multiple cases, including an attack on the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore and the burning of police vehicles in the Cantonment area during violent protests earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the LHC Appellate Court set aside the RO’s decision to reject the nomination papers of PTI leader Hammad Azhar and his father Mian Azhar from PP-171 due to the failure of their supporters and proponents to appear.

His supporters and proponents appeared before the court where Judge Ahmed Nadeem Arshad announced the verdict in their favour.

However, Justice Tariq Nadeem dismissed Azhar’s appeal against the NA-129 constituency’s rejection of his documents.