KARACHI/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The election appellate tribunals on Friday allowed various top leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including its Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, his son Zain Qureshi, Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh and General Secretary Omar Ayub to contest the general elections 2024.
The Returning Officers concerned had rejected their candidatures for the upcoming polls during scrutiny of nomination papers.
The Sindh High Court’s (SHC) election appellate tribunal on Friday accepted the appeals of PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, his son Zain Qureshi and party Provincial President Haleem Adil Sheikh against the rejection of their candidatures for the upcoming polls.
Qureshi and his son had contested the rejection of their nomination papers by the returning officers (ROs) from the NA-214 (Tharparkar-I) while Haleem Adil Sheikh had challenged the decision of RO for NA-238 (Karachi-East IV).
The development comes day after Sheikh was granted bail by Malir judicial magistrate Saima Katto in a case related to the May 9 violence while a day before that, he was indicted in a case linked to rioting at city courts in Karachi.
The RO had objected to Qureshi and Zain’s candidature for not providing details of their assets, source of income and paid taxes.
Meanwhile, Haleem Adil Sheikh’s papers had been rejected for failing to “disclose details of clearance from the police/anti-corruption” and not providing the No Dues Certificate from the provincial assembly, as per the last hearing’s order.
The election tribunal had issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and others on the PTI leaders’ appeals on Wednesday.
The appeals had been filed through Advocate Ali Tahir, who appeared before the tribunal today and confirmed to Dawn.com that his clients were allowed to contest the polls.
The Election Tribunal, addressing an appeal from Firdous Shamim Naqvi, ruled in favor, leading to the acceptance of his nomination papers.
Justice Adnanul Karim Memon presided over the hearing during which he heard the arguments of the parties concerned, including the ECP. He subsequently set aside the objections raised by the ROs, declaring them illegal, and directing the officials to accept the PTI leaders’ nomination papers.
Another PTI candidate Arsalan Khalid’s papers were also approved from NA-241 after the tribunal heard his appeal.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Mirza Ikhtiar Baig has been granted conditional permission to contest the election from the NA-241 constituency due to his dual citizenship status.
Tribunal judge Adnanul Karim Memon told Baig to submit an affidavit if he has renounced his dual citizenship status. “If the affidavit is found to be false, then after the election, the victory will be annulled,” the tribunal said.
Meanwhile, the election appellate tribunals of Peshawar High Court cleared the nominations of PTI’s General Secretary Omar Ayub Khan against the rejection of his nomination papers for NA-18 was dismissed in Abbottabad. However, he has been allowed to contest polls from NA-18 in Haripur.
The tribunal also allowed Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Babar Nawaz to contest the election from NA-18. Both Ayub and Nawaz withdrew their objections against each other, after which their papers were approved.
Similarly, PTI’s Mujahid Ali Khan was allowed to contest polls from NA 21 Mardan; Adnan Khan from PK 54 Mardan; Amir Farzand Khan from PK 56 Mardan and Shafiullah Jan was cleared to contest elections from PK 92 Kohat.
Sanam Javed’s papers accepted from two Lahore constituencies
An Election Appellate Tribunal has allowed PTI leader Sanam Javed to contest polls and annulled the decision of the returning officer who rejected her nomination papers.
The Lahore High Court’s Election Tribunal consisting of Justice Risal Hasan Syed accepted the nomination papers of Sanam Javed from two constituencies of Lahore – NA 119 and PP 150.
In her appeal, the petitioner stated that she has been granted bails in all cases related to the May 9 tragedy adding that the police did not allow her proposer and seconder to appear for scrutiny, on which the RO rejected her nomination papers.
The Election Tribunal issued a notice to the concerned returning officer and directed him to bring the record.
Notices issued on Fawad Ch’s appeal
On the other hand, the election appellate tribunal of Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench issued notices on the appeals of former information minister Fawad Chaudhry and his wife Hiba Ch against the rejection of their nomination papers from NA-61 (Jhelum-II).
Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz presided over the hearing today.
The tribunal sought details from the FIA of Fawad’s and Hiba’s travels abroad as well as bank account details and adjourned the hearing till Saturday (tomorrow).
Separately, a Rawalpindi election appellate tribunal headed by Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf accepted PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari’s appeal, allowing him to contest polls from Attock.
Tribunal in Rawalpindi also allowed Sabatin Khan to participate in the elections from PP 88 constituency in Mianwali.
Notably, the tribunal also cleared the nomination papers of PML-Z chief Muhammad Ijazul Haq for NA-55, rejecting objections raised by the returning officer.
