LAHORE - A Lahore High Court election tribunal Tuesday dismissed appeals against nomination papers of former PML-N foreign minister Khawaja Muhamamd Asif and PTI’s Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan to contest elections for National Assembly seats in Sialkot.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif is contesting election from NA-73 while Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan is a candidate from NA-72.
A voter had questioned the nomination papers of Khawaja Muhamamd Asif alleging that he concealed assts and properties. He said the RO allowed him to contest election by ignoring all the documentary evidence. He asked the tribunal to set aside decision of the returning officer and restrain him from contesting election from NA 73.
Another voter from NA-72 had questioned the candidacy of PTI leader Dr. Firdous Ashiq wan. He said Awan did not disclose her properties and assets in her nomination papers. He said Awan also failed to provide complete information about her marriage and children to the ECP.
The ECP’s counsel, however, opposed the arguments of the appellants saying that the returning officers concerned accepted the nomination papers of the respondent candidates on merit. After hearing both sides, the election tribunal comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi dismissed the appeals and upheld the impugned decisions of the returning officers.
Another election tribunal comprising Justice Faisal Zaman rejected nomination papers of two brothers Saeed Ahmad Niwani from NA-98 and Rasheed Akbar Niwani from PP-90 (Gujranwala).
A voter Inamullah Niazi had moved appeals against them, arguing that the Supreme Court disqualified both candidates for possessing fake graduation degrees. He said the RO ignored this fact and allowed them to contest election. He asked the court to set aside the decision of the RO and reject nomination papers of both candidates.
The tribunal allowed the appeals and rejected nomination papers of Niwani brothers.
The election tribunal also turned down appeal against the candidature of PML-N’s Maulana Ghayasuddin from PP-47, Bhakkar.