LHC allows Ludhianvi to contest Jhang by-election

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday allowed Emir Ahle Sunnat Wal-Jamat Maulana Ahmad Ludhianvi to contest by-election from PP-78, Jhang.

A full bench, headed by Justice Shahid Jamil Khan, passed the interim order on a petition of Ludhianvi, challenging a decision of a division bench that disqualified him for the by-poll. Giving interim relief to Ludhianvi, the bench issued notices to the respondents and fixed Dec 14 for further hearing.

The Punjab Assembly’s constituency had fallen vacant after the Supreme Court disqualified Rashida Yaqoob of Pakistan Muslim League-N for concealing assets, upholding a decision of an election tribunal in October this year. She was elected to the assembly in 2013 election and runner-up candidate Ludhianvi had challenged her qualification up to the apex court. The election commission announced holding by-polls in the constituency on Dec 1 for which both Ms Yaqoob and Ludhianvi filed their nomination papers.

On a petition of the PML-N candidate Sheikh Sheraz Akram, the high court had restrained both Ms Yaqoob and Ludhianvi from contesting the by-poll. Ludhianvi challenged the decision and contended that FIRs registered against him were not in his knowledge at the time of filing nomination papers.