ECP, RO put on notice over Imran nomination rejection

RO rejected Imran's nomination papers alleging documents submitted were insufficient

LAHORE: An election tribunal in Lahore on Saturday issued notices to the returning officer and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan's nomination papers from Mianwali's NA-95 were earlier rejected.

Justice Faisal Zaman, heading the appellate tribunal, issued the notices.

The PTI chief's nomination from Mianwali was rejected by the RO on the basis that he had failed to provide sufficient information in the affidavit when submitting his nomination. Imran's counsel, Babar Awan, represented him and argued that the RO rejected the papers on reasons other than facts.



Awan further argued that the RO's decision should be reversed and the court should allow the PTI chief to partake in elections from Mianwali as well.

On the last day of the scrutiny process, the RO rejected Imran's candidacy from NA-95. District Bar Association Sargodha President Ansar Abbas Baloch had filed objections on behalf of independent candidate Manzoor Khan in the court of returning officer Tariq Mehmood.

On Thursday, Awan had argued before the appellate tribunal in Islamabad that the rejection by a returning officer of Imran’s NA-53 nomination papers was illegal and unjust.



“Imran is chairman of Pakistan’s largest political party and strives for the basic rights of all. The RO scrutinised his nomination papers on June 19 and rejected them. Imran did not hide any facts nor lie,” Awan had argued.