- Three-member LHC bench rejects appeals against decisions of appellate tribunals
LAHORE: A three-member bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday rejected the appeals of several PTI leaders, including founder Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Hammad Azhar, and activist Sanam Javed, against election appellate tribunal, which had upheld the Returning Officers (ROs) decision on rejection of their nomination papers.
The bench, headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, heard numerous petitions related to the acceptance or dismissal of PTI lawmakers’ nomination papers. The bench had, yesterday, reserved its verdict on these pleas and announced it on Wednesday, dismissing the appeals of the PTI leaders.
The former prime minister had submitted his nomination papers from NA-122 Lahore and NA-89 Mianwali for the general elections scheduled for Feb 8, which were both rejected by the respective ROs. Subsequently, he contested these decisions before the election appellate tribunals, where his appeals were also dismissed.
In response, PTI founder Imran Khan filed a writ petition with the larger LHC bench against the tribunal’s decision. Similarly, 60 other PTI leaders, had submitted petitions in the LHC against the rejection of their nomination papers.
A three-member LHC bench – headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi – announced the reserved verdict on more than 60 petitions, including Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pervaiz Elahi and others.
Dismissing the appeals, the three-member LHC bench upheld the decision to reject the nomination papers. Shah Mahmood had challenged the rejection of his nomination from NA-150, NA-151 and PP-218.
Furthermore, Fawad Chaudhry’s application against rejection of nomination papers from NA-60 and NA-61 was also dismissed. The court also rejected the petition against the rejection of nomination papers of his wife, Hiba Fawad.
The Lahore High Court also upheld the decision to reject Sanam Javed’s nomination papers from NA-119 and NA-120. Sanam Javed had also challenged the rejection of her nomination papers from PP-150.
Earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa-led three-member bench announced the verdict, dealing a huge blow to Imran Khan-led PTI’s hopes of retaining its symbol.
As a result, the PTI candidates will now be contesting the elections independently with different electoral symbols while the party no longer has the right to reserved seats for women and minorities.
Sh Rashid allowed to contest elections
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday allowed the former federal minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to contest the upcoming general election 2024.
According to details, a three-member bench of Lahore High Court heard the petition filed against the decision to approve the nomination papers of Sheikh Rashid.
The Lahore High Court upheld the decision of the Appellate Tribunal.
It was argued in the petition that Sheikh Rashid’s nomination papers were approved contrary to the facts, the court should annul the decision of the Appellate Tribunal.
The appeal against acceptance of nomination papers of Sheikh Rashid from NA-56 was dismissed.
