The nomination papers of Mehar Ishtiaq Ahmad, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate in the by-election for PP-158, were rejected on Saturday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Pronouncing the reserved verdict, Returning Officer (RO) Syed Basit Ali said that Ishtiaq had submitted his papers after the office timings. “And since papers submitted after the office timings could not be accepted, therefore, they were rejected,” he said while reading out the verdict.     

Mian Amjad Iqbal, the rival candidate, had challenged the late submission of papers by Ishtiaq. 

Earlier, giving his arguments in the case, Amjad’s counsel Ishfaq Ahmad Malik Advocate said that by submitting the papers after the office timings, the PML-N candidate had violated the Election Act. “Therefore, it is prayed that his papers are rejected,” he said. 

On the other hand, Mehar Muhammad Jahangir Advocate, representing the defendant, claimed that his client had submitted his papers on time. 

He argued that even if the papers were submitted after the working hours, these could not be rejected. “The rival candidate instead of facing my client in the election is making a minor mistake on his opponent’s part an excuse to challenge his candidature,” he concluded. 

PML-N’s Hafiz Mian Nauman withdraws his candidature:

On the other hand, Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman, another PML-N candidate in the by-election for PP-158, withdrew his nomination papers. 

Hammadul Hassan Hanjra, counsel for Nauman, told RO Basit Ali that his client wanted to withdraw his papers, which was accepted by the RO. 

Mian Akram Usman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had objected to the nomination of Nauman. But the latter withdrew his papers before the petition could be heard.

Reporter: Rao Dilshad