Election courts issue notices on pleas challenging acceptance of Nawaz Sharif’s nomination papers
- Rashid’s nomination papers from NA-56, NA-57 were accepted.
- Mengal granted permission to participate in the Quetta elections.
- RO summoned in matter of clearance of nomination documents of Nawaz.
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Several senior political leaders including Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Akhtar Mengal and Firdous Shamim Naqvi among others have got relief from the election courts as their nomination papers were accepted for the February 8 general elections .
The hearing of objections raised against the rejection or acceptance of nomination papers by election tribunals and law courts continued on Thursday. News reported.
Different election courts approved the nomination papers of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Rashid, Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Mengal and PML-Zia chief Ijazul Haq and allowed them to contest. the elections of February 8.
Rashid’s nomination papers were accepted in NA-56 and NA-57 constituencies.
Another election court in Balochistan granted permission to Mengal on Thursday to contest the NA-264 Quetta elections.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Hashim Khan Kakar and Justice Amir Nawaz Rana, set aside the RO’s decision to reject Mengal’s nomination papers for having Dubai Aqama (work permit). The BNP chief had challenged the rejection of his nomination papers through his lawyer Sajid Tareen Advocate.
On the other hand, a court rejected the RO’s objections to Ijazul Haq’s documents. His nomination papers were accepted for NA-55.
Separately, former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry’s appeal against rejection of papers from two Jhelum seats was heard, in which the court issued notices to the Election Commission by Friday (today).
His lawyer claimed that false objections were being raised to keep his client out of the election.
Similarly, an appeal electoral tribunal set aside an order of the returning officer regarding the rejection of the nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former provincial assembly opposition leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi, for East Karachi constituency NA-236, and directed the RO to accept his nomination papers.
Notices issued regarding OR decisions
Meanwhile, the Abbottabad Circuit Court of Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday summoned Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar and Returning Officer in a petition challenging the clearance of nomination papers of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif , for NA-15.
Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel, chief of the PHC Regional Election Tribunal, after hearing the arguments of Senator Azam Khan Swati’s lawyer, Sardar Basharat Advocate, and Waqar Ahmad Khan, the lawyer of PTI leader Sharif Rafique, summoned Muhammad Safdar, Nawaz Sharif’s covert candidate, and RO for NA-15.
Azam Swati and Sharif Rafique had challenged the clearance of Nawaz Sharif’s documents for NA-15 Mansehra-II in court. Swati, through another petition, which is pending before the same court, challenged the disqualification of him by the returning officer of NA-15.
“We were waiting for the election tribunal’s ruling on Friday (today) as it has summoned both parties to appear before it,” Sardar Basharat told reporters.
He said the SC had disqualified Nawaz from holding any public office and contesting elections for life. “How is it possible that a returning officer can authorize Nawaz Sharif to contest the NA-15 elections against the high court verdict,” Basharat said.
Further, the appellate bench of the Lahore High Court on Thursday issued a written appeal order against the approval of Nawaz’s nomination papers for NA-130 in Lahore. The court summoned the returning officer along with the report on January 8, 2024.
Justice Raheel Kamran Shaikh issued notices to the RO regarding an appeal against the rejection of nomination papers of former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi, his son Moonis Elahi and other members of his family.
In appeal, the position was taken that Parvez Elahi and Moonis Elahi were candidates in NA-69, 64-PP 32 and PP-34 Gujarat, but the returning officer rejected the nomination papers for not showing a 10 marla plot.
The LHC appellate court also accepted an appeal for hearing by PTI founder Imran Khan. Khan was contesting the elections for NA-89 Mianwali but his nomination papers were rejected.
The LHC Appellate Tribunal, comprising Justice Raheel Kamran Shaikh, issued notice to the returning officer of NA-70, Sialkot, on an appeal against the rejection of the nomination papers of Usman Dar’s mother Rehana Dar and her sister-in-law Ruba Umar.
She is contesting NA elections from Sialkot, nomination papers were rejected on political grounds and she was accused of grabbing 40 marla land by forgery.
Separately, the Election Tribunal sitting at the Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court accepted a petition filed against the rejection of the nomination papers of former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, his son Zain Qureshi and his daughter Mehrabano Qureshi for a hearing and directed the RO to submit the file to the court on January 6.
