SWAT: The nomination papers of PTI’s underground leader Murad Saeed along with former provincial minister Dr Amjad Ali, former MNA Saleem Rehman and former MPAs – Fazal Hakeem and Mian Sharafat Ali were rejected by the returning officer here on Friday.
Former federal minister Murad Saeed had submitted nomination papers for Constituency NA-3 and Constituency NA-4.
On Friday, the returning officer (RO) of Circle NA-4 rejected the nomination of Murad Saeed for being an absconder in eight different cases. The RO for constituency NA-3, however, announce a decision on Murad Saeed’s paper on Saturday (today).
Another PTI leader Sohail Sultan Advocate confirmed the news regarding rejection of Murad Saeed’s papers.
Murad Saeed was elected as member of the National Assembly from the same constituency in the 2018 elections. The returning officer rejected the PTI leader’s nomination papers on the grounds that the latter is wanted by the police in various cases.
The nomination papers of PTI leader Murad Saeed for the National Assembly seat were submitted by his lawyers. As many as 48 candidates submitted nomination papers for constituency NA-4.
The candidates, who have filed nominations for the NA-4, include: former KP chief minister and PTI leader Mehmood Khan, ANP Brig (r) Muhammad Saleem Khan and Sher Shah Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-N Haji Jalat Khan and Rahmat Ali Khan, JUI’s former provincial minister Qari Mahmood, Jamaat-e-Islami’s former MNA Dr Fazal Subhan and other small parties and independent candidates.
Furthermore, nomination papers of former MPA Fazal Hakeem Khan were rejected under Schedule IV while papers of former MNA Saleemur Rehman in constituency NA-2, former provincial minister Dr Amjad Ali for PK-7 and former MPA Mian Sharaft Ali for PK-3 were also rejected under schedule IV by the RO.
Tehreek-e-Insaf lawyers Sohail Sultan Advocate and Kamal Khan Advocate have expressed a strong reaction to the decisions of ROs and announced to go to the Election Tribunal against the decision, terming it as “illegal and unconstitutional.”
Murad Saeed has gone into hiding after the May 9 incidents and cases have also been registered against him in several police stations. On Nov 16, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore declared various PTI leaders including Murad Saeed as proclaimed offenders in cases related to the May 9 riots.
The PTI leaders who were declared as POs include: Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema and his wife Musarrat Iqbal Cheema, Barrister Hassaan Niazi, and Zubair Khan Niazi.
