Accepting an appeal filed by PTI leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi against the rejection of his nomination papers for a by-election for Punjab Assembly seat PP-158, Lahore, an appellate tribunal in Lahore on Tuesday allowed him to contest the election, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

The tribunal, comprising Justice Shahid Karim, gave Moonis a go-ahead signal, and thus declared the returning officer’s (RO) decision to reject his papers null and void.

Imran Arif Ranjha and Haroon Kasi appeared before the tribunal on behalf of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) along with the RO.  

On Monday, the tribunal had sought replies from the ECP on the appeals filed by PTI President Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi against rejection of their nomination papers for by-polls in Punjab.

The RO had rejected the papers of Moonis from PP-158, Lahore, saying he was an absconder in multiple cases of alleged corruption.

The appellant’s counsel argued that the decision of the RO was not based on facts; therefore it should be declared null and void.

The counsel argued that the Supreme Court had allowed the politicians, who had been declared absconders in politically motivated cases, to contest the elections.

He reminded the tribunal that the apex court had declared that contesting elections was a fundamental right of every citizen.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf