KARACHI, Jan 2: PTI leaders approached election tribunals on Monday against the decisions of the returning officers regarding the rejection of their nomination papers for the February 8 elections.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) decided to approach election tribunals on Monday to challenge the rejection of the nomination papers of scores of its candidates, including party founder Imran Khan.
This comes a day after most of its nominees failed to clear the scrutiny of nomination papers filed for the 2024 general elections.
Partys Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan, said that all rejected nomination papers would be challenged. Hasan said that, as per the rules, the rejection of nomination papers would initially be challenged in the tribunals and then other options would be explored.
Earlier on December 30, the Election Commission of Pakistan rejected scores of nomination forms from the PTI across the country -- a move that the former ruling party decided to challenge at relevant forums.
According to the Central Punjab nomination papers data, 281 candidates submitted their papers for 44 NA constituencies out of which 95 nomination papers were rejected, while 186 candidates nomination papers were accepted.
In Sindh, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Haleem Adil Sheikh, and Firdous Shamim Naqvi were among around 20 appellants who approached the tribunals established at Sindh High Courts principal seat in Karachi.
The election tribunals issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan, returning officers concerned, and other respondents with directions to file comments by Jan 4.
Barrister Ali Tahir filed the appeals on behalf of the PTI vice chairman and his son and submitted that the rejection from NA-214 (Tharparkar) was politically motivated and not sustainable.
Another PTI incarcerated leader Haleem Adil Shaikh also filed an election appeal through his attorney since the RO had rejected his nomination papers from NA-238 (Karachi East-IV). The appellant said his candidature was rejected on politically motivated grounds.
Former PTI lawmaker Firdous Shamim Naqvi, who is currently confined at his house in connection with a case related to the May 9 incidents, through his lawyer filed an election appeal against the order of RO.
Khurram Sherzaman also approached the election tribunal against rejection of his nomination from NA-241(Karachi South-III). Appeals were also filed by former PTI MNAs Attaullah and Aftab Jahangir since their nomination papers were also rejected from NA-245 (Karachi West-I) and NA-244 (Karachi West-II).
PTIs Dr Masroor Sial (NA-230 Malir-II) and Saeed Afridi (NA-245 & 246) were also among the appellants who approached the tribunal on Monday. The tribunals issued notices to respondents directing them to file comments by Jan 4.
In Punjab PTI ticket aspirant Barrister Shahid Masood filed an appeal before the appellate tribunal challenging the rejection of his nomination papers from NA-131, Kasur.
Mansoor Sabir Ansari of PTI and Zaigham Abbas of PML-Q also filed appeals against the rejection of their nomination papers from PP-176 in Kasur and PP-131 in Gujrat, respectively.
Separately, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of the LHC directed the ROs of different national and provincial constituencies in Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin to issue attested copies of their decisions regarding the rejection of nomination papers of PTI President Parvez Elahi, his wife Qaisera Elahi, son Moonis Elahi and others.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, several PTI members challenged the rejection of their nomination papers at the election tribunals of the PHC and its Abbottabad circuit bench. Nine PTI leaders challenged the returning officers decision to turn down their nomination papers in the high court while three others filed writ petitions at the PHC Abbottabad circuit bench.
PTI candidates Zahir Shah for PK-58 and Abdul Salam Afridi for PK-58 also approached the PHC against the rejection of their nomination papers. Besides, Iftikhar Mashwani and Amir Farzand Khan also filed writ petitions in the PHC against the rejection of their nomination papers for the PK-60 and PK-61 constituencies.
Similarly, Aftab Alam, PTI candidate for the NA-35 (Kohat) approached the PHC election tribunal while Yousaf Khan approached the court against the rejection of his nomination papers from NA-31 (Hangu).
Abu Turab also petitioned the election tribunal against his disqualification. PHC judge Justice Syed Shakeel Ahmed will hear the petitions at the election tribunal.
In Manshera, the PTI challenged the disqualification of Senator Azam Khan Swati and others at the PHC Abbottabad circuit bench.
A PTI lawyers panel led by Munir Hussain Lughmani advocate and including Barrister Mudassar Usman and Waqar Khan advocate moved separate petitions for Swati whose nomination papers were rejected by the RO in NA-15 (Mansehra-II), Kamal Saleem Swati whose nomination papers were rejected in NA-14 (Mansehra-I) and PK-37, and Sardar Khan whose nomination papers were rejected by in PK-38. Separately, Nooruddin Khilji, Sardar Khadim Hussain Wardak, Abdul Ghafar Kakar and Adil Bazi of the PTI challenged the rejection of their nomination papers in Balochistan.
—REPORT AGENCIES
