Rashid, Akhtar Mengal allowed to contest polls

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Hearing of objections filed against rejection or acceptance of nomination papers by the election tribunals and courts of law continued on Thursday.

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

An election tribunal approved the nomination papers of former interior minister and AML chief Sheikh Rashid from NA-56 and NA-57. Another election tribunal in Balochistan granted permission to Akhtar 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 of rejecting Mengal’s nomination papers on account of having Dubai’s Aqama (work permit). The BNP chief had challenged rejection of his nomination papers through his counsel Sajid Tareen Advocate.

Separately, a tribunal rejected the RO’s objections on the papers of Ijazul Haq. His nomination papers were accepted for NA-55. On the other hand, former 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 election.

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 PMLN leader 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 Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s leader Sharif Rafique, summoned Muhammad Safdar, the covering candidate of Nawaz Sharif, and RO for NA-15 Hajrah Sami.

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 Sharif 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 Sharif’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 rejection of 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 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 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.

It has been ordered to happen. The court ordered RO to produce himself in person. Earlier, some objections were raised by the Registrar’s Office on the appeals filed in the tribunal. After removing these objections, the applications were filed again. The petitioners argued in their petitions that the RO had rejected the nomination papers of Shah Mehmood, Zain and Mehrabano Qureshi on the pretext of signatures.

Meanwhile, Justice Sarfaraz Dogar, the judge of the Election Tribunal, adjourned the objection petition filed for approval of papers of Ata Maneka, a political leader from Pakpattan, till January 6. The tribunal has directed the RO to appear before the tribunal on January 6 along with the record. The hearing was held on an appeal against approval of nomination papers of Maneka from PP-193 Pakpattan. Muhammad Ali Maneka filed an appeal against approval of papers and argued that Ata Maneka was a tax and MEPCO defaulter. He stated that Maneka also did not disclose his two marriages in his nomination papers.

Justice Sardar Sarfaraz Dogar remarked that if the second marriage of Mian Ata Maneka was found out, then the lawyer’s house would be broken. His remarks caused a laughter in the court room. The tribunal later issued notices to all parties for January 6.

Meanwhile, the election tribunals established on Multan bench of the LHC heard 194 different appeals on Thursday. It was likely to hear more than a 100 appeals on Friday (today). In three days, the number of appeals filed against decisions of the ROs had reached 219.

In yet another case, heavy contingent of police arrested former minister of state and PTI leader Dr Shabbir Ali Qureshi outside the Lahore High Court Multan bench on Thursday, though the election tribunal (ET) had allowed him to contest the upcoming polls.

Counsel Tariq Dogar said his client, who belongs to Kot Addu, was arrested from his chamber. He said he also protested over the injustice, but the police did not listen to him. Wife of Shabbir Qureshi also strongly protested against the arrest and demanded chief justice of Pakistan order immediate release of her husband.

The ET had annulled the decision of the returning officer (RO) on an appeal, filed against rejection of his nomination papers, and allowed him to contest polls for National Assembly constituency NA-179 and NA-180.

The appeals were heard on Thursday, in which the high court overruled the RO decision and allowed him to participate in election. After the hearing, when he came out of the high court, he was arrested by the police. His wife alleged the police arrested Shabbir Qureshi in violation of the law.