SHC declares PTI's Saifullah Abro eligible to contest Senate elections

• PTI leader tells court that he fulfils all educational requirements required from a person vying for technocrat seat in Senate
• Election tribunal had earlier declared Saifullah Abro ineligible for Senate elections
• Tribunal had ruled Abro ineligible after his nomination papers were challenged last week

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday allowed PTI leader Saifullah Abro to contest the Senate elections on March 3.

During the hearing, Abro’s lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan told the court that his client fulfils all the educational requirements that are needed for a person to contest the technocrat seat in the Senate polls. He also added that his client has rendered his services for Pakistan.

After hearing the arguments, the court overturned the Election Tribunal’s decision declaring Abro's ineligibility to contest the Senate elections and allowed him to vie for the seat.

Read more: Nomination papers of Senate candidate Saifullah Abro rejected

SHC admits plea for hearing

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday had agreed to hear the appeal filed by the PTI leader challenging the Election Tribunal’s order declaring him ineligible for the technocrat seat of the Senate.

Abro, in his plea, argued that the tribunal gave the ruling in his case while “ignoring the facts”. 

He urged the court to declare the tribunal’s ruling "illegal" and allow him to contest the Senate elections.

The tribunal had declared Abro as ineligible after his nomination papers for a technocrat seat from Sindh, accepted by the returning officer (RO), were challenged by GM Khan and Shahid Ali last week.

Read more: PTI, MQM leaders approach SHC to appeal rejection of Senate nomination papers

The petitioners had contested the RO's ruling on grounds that Abro does not meet the requirements of a technocrat as he has criminal cases registered against him, and was being investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). They had also alleged that the PTI leader had hidden assets to his name.

Abro's lawyer had challenged the claims laid before the tribunal but failed to secure a favourable ruling for his client.

In its verdict, the tribunal declared the verdict of the RO null and void.

Read more: After Balochistan fiasco, Sindh PTI leaders object to award of Senate ticket to Vawda, Abro

"The objections raised by the petitioners were proved true and Saifullah Abro does not fulfil the requirement of a technocrat," the order had earlier stated.