Election tribunals clear several PTI leaders to contest elections
Election tribunals have accepted nomination papers of several PTI leaders, clearing their way to take part in February 8 general elections, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The PTI had informed the Supreme Court a few days ago that nomination papers of over 650 party leaders had been rejected, complaining lack of level-playing field.
However, the election tribunals on Friday set aside the objections raised by the returning officers or appeals filed against the nomination papers of the PTI leaders, allowing them to contest elections.
Prominent among PTI leaders whose nomination papers were cleared were former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Zulfi Bukhair Hakeem Adil Sheikh, omar Ayub, Sanam Javaid, Ansar Iqbal and others.
An Election Appellate Tribunal in Sindh has allowed incarcerated former foreign minister and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi to contest the polls from NA 214 (UmarKot).
The appellate tribunal of the Sindh High Court also accepted the nomination papers of Zain Qureshi from NA 214 while annulling the decision of the returning officer.
The Election Appellate Tribunal of the Sindh High Court on Friday heard the appeals filed by Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Zain Qureshi from Constituency NA-214, Haleem Adil Sheikh from Constituency N-238, Arslan Khalid from Constituency NA-241 and Peoples Party candidate Akhtar Baig from Constituency NA-241 challenging the decision of rejecting their nomination papers by the respective ROs.
The Election Tribunal allowed PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi to contest the election from NA-214 Umarkot. PTI leaders Haleem Adil Sheikh and Arsalan Khalid were also allowed to contest the election.
The tribunal approved the nomination papers of Zain Qureshi from NA-214.
The Election Tribunal annulled the decision of the returning officer to reject the papers. The documents were rejected by the returning officer on not submitting the proof of dues.
The tribunal consisting of Justice Adnan Al Kareem Memon gave conditional permission to Mirza Akhtar Baig of the Peoples Party to contest the election from NA 241 Constituency. The tribunal remarked that if he has abandoned his dual citizenship, he should submit an affidavit. If the affidavit is found to be false, the victory will be annulled after winning the election, the tribunal warned.
The appeal of PTI candidate Arsalan Khalid from Constituency NA 241 was also approved. The tribunal allowed Arsalan Khalid to participate in the election. The lawyer of the Election Commission had submitted that the returning officer had rejected his documents for not showing that a case was registered against him.
Zulfi Bukhari’s paper accepted
The nomination papers of PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari were also accepted by the Election Tribunal.
Zulfi Bukhari submitted the papers from Attock Constituency NA-50.
After the rejection of his nomination papers by the RO, the PTI leader approached the Election Tribunal which overturned the decision of the returning officer and accepted his papers.
Sanam Javed’s papers accepted from two Lahore constituencies
An Election Appellate Tribunal has allowed PTI leader Sanam Javed to contest polls and annulled the decision of the returning officer who rejected her nomination papers, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.
The Lahore High Court’s Election Tribunal consisting of Justice Risal Hasan Syed accepted the nomination papers of Sanam Javed from two constituencies of Lahore - NA 119 and PP 150.
In her appeal, the petitioner stated that she has been granted bails in all cases related to the May 9 tragedy adding that the police did not allow her proposer and seconder to appear for scrutiny, on which the RO rejected her nomination papers.
The Election Tribunal issued a notice to the concerned returning officer and directed him to bring the record.
Omar Ayub cleared
An Election Tribunal accepted nomination papers of PTI leader Omar Ayub and allowed him to contest elections from NA 18, Abbottabad.
The tribunal annulled the decision of the returning officer and let the PTI leader run for National Assembly constituency.
Lawyer Pajutha papers accepted
An Appellate Tribunal allowed PTI lawyer Naeem Haider Panjutha to contest polls. The tribunal accepted his papers from three constituencies of Sargodha.
The returning officers rejected Panjutha’s nomination papers from NA 82, PP 80 and PP 71.
Besides him, the tribunal also accepted the appeal of another PTI candidate Usama Ahmad Maila.
He challenged the decision of the RO who rejected his nomination papers from Sargodha constituency.
Another PTI candidate Ansar Iqbal was declared eligible to run for the elections.
The tribunal accepted his papers from NA 83, PP 73, PP 74 and PP 76 Sargodha.
Atif Khan, Raja Basharat allowed to contest polls
Election Tribunal in Peshawar consisting Justice Shakeel Ahmad announced the reserved decision on the appeal of former PTI minister Atif Khan allowing him to contest the polls.
While rejecting the decision of the RO, a Rawalpindi Appellate Tribunal accepted the appeal of former minister Raja Basharat and allowed him to run for the polls from NA 55 and PP 15.
PTI candidate Malik Nadeem Abbas also got cleared by the tribunal for running for the polls. The tribunal accepted his nomination papers from PP 167 and overturned the decision of the returning officer.
Appeals of several KP PTI candidates accepted
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Election Tribunal accepted the appeals of several PTI candidates including Mujahid Ali Khan from NA 21 Mardan, Shafiullah Khan from PK 92 Kohat, Amir Farzand from PK 56 Mardan, Abdus Salam Afridi from NA 22 and PK 58 Mardan, Adnan Khan from PK 54 Mardan, and Mian Amir from PK 88.
Ex-PTI MPA Arif Abbasi's appeal rejected
On the other hand, an Appellate Tribunal in Rawalpindi rejected the appeal of former PTI MPA Arif Abbasi from PP 19.
The tribunal said that Arif Abbasi was an absconder and he didn’t surrender before any court.
Reporters GR Junejo, Irshad Qureshi, Zubair Awan, Malik Ashraf and Amir Shahzad