Sheikh Rashid, Akhtar Mengal, Firdous Naqvi cleared to contest elections

• Rashid's nomination papers accepted from NA-56, NA-57.
• Mengal granted permission to contest elections from Quetta.
• RO summoned in Nawaz nomination papers clearance matter. 

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Several senior political leaders including Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Akhtar Mengal, and Firdous Shamim Naqvi among others have secured relief from election tribunals as their nomination papers were accepted for the February 8 general elections.

Hearing of objections filed against rejection or acceptance of nomination papers by the election tribunals and courts of law continued on Thursday, The News reported.

Different election tribunals approved the nomination papers of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Rashid, Balochistan National Party (BNP) head Mengal and PML-Zia chief Ijazul Haq, and allowed them to contest the February 8 elections.

Rashid's nomination papers were accepted from NA-56 and NA-57 constituencies.

Another election tribunal in Balochistan granted permission to Mengal on Thursday to contest elections from NA-264 Quetta.

A two-member tribunal comprising Justice Hashim Khan Kakar and Justice Amir Nawaz Rana set aside the RO’s decision to reject Mengal’s nomination papers on account of having Dubai’s Aqama (work permit). The BNP chief had challenged the rejection of his nomination papers through his counsel Sajid Tareen Advocate.

Separately, a tribunal rejected the RO’s objections to the papers of Ijazul Haq. His nomination papers were accepted for NA-55. 

On the other hand, former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry’s appeal against rejection of papers from two Jhelum seats was heard in which the tribunal issued notices to the Election Commission for Friday (today).

His lawyer took the stand that bogus objections were being raised to keep his client out of the election.

Similarly, an appellate election tribunal set aside a returning officer’s order with regard to the rejection of the nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former provincial assembly opposition leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi for NA-236 East Karachi constituency, and directed the RO to accept his nomination papers.

Notices issued over ROs decisions

Meanwhile, the Abbottabad circuit bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) Thursday summoned Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar and the returning officer in a petition challenging the clearance of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s nomination papers for NA-15.

Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel, head of the PHC’s Regional Election Tribunal, after hearing arguments of Senator Azam Khan Swati’s counsel Sardar Basharat Advocate and Waqar Ahmad Khan, the counsel for PTI’s leader Sharif Rafique, summoned Muhammad Safdar, the covering candidate of Nawaz Sharif, and RO for NA-15.

Azam Swati and Sharif Rafique had challenged the clearance of Nawaz Sharif’s papers for NA-15 Mansehra-II before the tribunal. Swati, through another petition, which is pending before the same tribunal, challenged his disqualification by the returning officer for NA-15.

“We have been expecting the ruling by the election tribunal on Friday (today), as it has summoned both parties to appear before it,” Sardar Basharat told reporters.

He said the SC had disqualified Nawaz from holding any public office and taking part in elections for life. “How come a returning officer can clear Nawaz Sharif to contest elections from NA-15 against the verdict of the apex court,” Basharat said.

Also, the Lahore High Court appellate tribunal issued a written order of appeal against approval of Nawaz’s nomination papers for NA-130 in Lahore on Thursday. The court summoned the returning officer along with the report on January 8, 2024.

Justice Raheel Kamran Shaikh issued notices to the RO on an appeal against the rejection of the nomination papers of former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi, his son Moonis Elahi and other family members.

In the appeal, the position was adopted that Parvez Elahi and Moonis Elahi were candidates in NA-69, 64-PP 32 and PP-34 Gujarat, but the returning officer rejected the nomination papers for not showing A 10-marla plot.

The LHC appellate tribunal also accepted an appeal of PTI founder Imran Khan for hearing. Khan was contesting elections for NA-89 Mianwali but his nomination papers were rejected.

LHC Appellate Tribunal comprising Justice Raheel Kamran Shaikh issued a notice to the returning officer for NA-70, Sialkot, on an appeal against the rejection of nomination papers of Usman Dar’s mother Rehana Dar and sister-in-law Ruba Umar.

She is contesting the NA election from Sialkot, the nomination papers were rejected on political grounds and she was accused of grabbing 40-marla land by forgery.

Separately, the Election Tribunal established at the Multan Bench of Lahore High Court accepted an application, filed against the rejection of nomination papers of former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, his son Zain Qureshi and his daughter Mehrabano Qureshi for hearing and ordered the RO to produce the record to the court on January 6.