Election: Faisal Saleh Hayat, Abid Imam disqualified for stealing water

CHINIOT: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday dashed the lawmaking dreams of two candidates, one a seasoned and another a debutant, here in NA-87, Geo News reported.

According to sources, the erstwhile PML-Q leader Faisal Saleh Hayat, contesting as an independent candidate, and PPP’s Abid Imam, a first-timer, could not believe his ears when they heard the Returning Officer in NA-87 disqualifying them to run for the polls.

Abid Imam, who happens to be the son of veteran politicians, Syed Fakhar Imam and Syeda Abida Hussain, was taking his first shot at the elections but ECP did not let him so to speak. However he reserves the right to challenge the decision in one of the ECO tribunals.

The nomination papers of both the candidates were rejected on the charges of stealing irrigation water, the sources added.

Rejecting the accusations, Faisal Saleh Hayat, a seat-winning politician, alleged Abid Imam was behind his disqualification.

On the other hand Abid Imam says he has got nothing to do with Hayat's disqualification.