In a significant development ahead of the February 8 general elections, the nomination papers of Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), were rejected from National Assembly constituency NA-122 Lahore.
The Returning Officer (RO) cited Khan's conviction by the court and disqualification under Article 63 (1)(h) of the Constitution as the reasons for the rejection.
Additionally, he said, the proposer of Khan was found to be not a registered voter in the constituency, violating section 60(1) of the Election Act 2017.
On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif had his nomination papers accepted from Lahore’s NA-130, with no objections raised against him.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif also had his nomination papers accepted from Lahore’s NA-123. The RO also approved the nomination papers of PTI's senior lawyers Sardar Latif Khan Khosa and Azhar Siddique from the same constituency.
Furthermore, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz's nomination papers for the provincial seat PP-159, Lahore, were accepted, along with the papers of PML-N leaders Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Atta Tarar from NA-117.
PTI leaders Abrarul Haq and Ali Ijaz's nomination papers were also accepted from NA-117, as well as Aleem Khan's from NA-117 representing the Istehqam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).
However, PTI leader Dr Yasmeen Rashid's nomination papers were rejected from NA-130, and Hammad Azhar's papers from PP-172 faced a similar fate.
On Thursday, the RO had reserved decision of PMLN’s application wherein some objections raised on PTI’s founding chairman Imran Khan’s nomination papers he had submitted for NA-122.
The PML-N’s former MPA and the current contester Mian Naseer submitted objections before the RO, claiming that Imran had been convicted in the Toshakhana case and his nomination papers were not attested by the jail superintendent. He also claimed that his seconder did not belong to the constituency where the PTI founder was contesting from.
The RO’s room was packed with PTI supporters, on a point some fiery arguments also took place between the counsels of both sides.
During arguments, the Imran's counsels requested the RO to dismiss the objections as non-maintainable, adding that the seconders and proposers belonged to the same constituency the PTI founder was contesting from.
The counsel for the objector implored that they have no personal grudge against Imran, adding that there are certain legal aspects which need to be focused upon.
It is essential that the proposer and seconder of any candidate must be the resident of that constituency where the contester is contesting, the objector’s counsel argued. He further argued that the ECP had convicted Imran for five years, hence, how could he file nomination papers.
"An application against Imran's disqualification is still pending before the Lahore High Court (LHC)," argued the PTI counsel.
"Did LHC suspend the disqualification," the RO asked. To which the PTI counsel replied that the LHC had not suspended the disqualification and the matter is still pending.
"Do you have any proof to establish that Imran's seconder does not belong to the constituency where he is contesting from," the RO further asked the objector’s counsel.
The objector's counsel argued that there is substantial evidence present and the RO has the authority to reject the nomination papers of the proposers and seconders if they do not belong to the relevant constituency.
He further pointed out that the seconder and proposer did not sign the nomination papers in the presence of Imran. To which PTI's counsel proposed the RO summon the person for satisfaction of his query.
Source: Express Tribune
RO cites ex-PM’s conviction by the court and disqualification reasons for rejection
tribune.com.pk
