Election tribunal rejects appeal against PPP candidate

Petitioner maintained that the returning officer had ignored facts

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court's (SHC) election tribunal on Monday rejected an appeal filed by Sindh Indus Lawyers Forum against the approval of PPP candidate Palwasha Zai Khan's nomination papers.

The petitioner, Advocate Kamran Baloch, maintained that Khan transferred her vote from Punjab to Karachi overnight, which is a violation of Articles 220 and 226 of the constitution. He claimed that Khan did not belong to Karachi.

The advocate claimed that the objections raised on Khan's nomination papers were rejected without hearing. He moved the court to reject Khan's nomination papers and declare her ineligible for contesting the senate election.

The tribunal rejected Baloch's appeal.

Rejection challenged

An appeal challenging the rejection of nomination papers of MQM-P candidate, Rauf Siddiqi, was filed in the SHC's election tribunal.

The petitioner maintained that the returning officer had ignored the facts and rejected Siddiqi's nomination papers. The appeal moved the tribunal to nullify the election commission's decision to reject Siddiqi's nomination papers and declare him eligible for contesting senate elections.

MQM-P candidates' appeal rejected

The election tribunal rejected the appeals of MQM-P candidates Rauf Siddiqui and Khizer Askari Zaidi, challenging the returning officer's decision to reject their nomination papers.

The tribunal maintained the decision of rejection of the nomination papers of both candidates and declared them ineligible for senate elections.

In another case the election tribunal rejected the appeal challenging the approval of the nomination papers of MQM-P candidate Dr Shahab Imam.

Advocate Haseeb Jamali maintained that Dr Imam studied MBBS but never practiced therefore he cannot be elected on the seat of technocrats owing to absence of experience.

The election tribunal rejected Tufail Ahmed's appeal against the approval of Dr Imam's nomination papers.

PTI's Abro's papers rejected

The election tribunal rejected the nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate Saifullah Abro.

The tribunal heard a petition, filed by Ghulam Mustafa Memon, challenging the nomination papers submitted by Abro before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

The petitioner's counsel, Rasheed A Rizvi, presented Abro's educational certificates and business details before the tribunal and said Abro hid his assets in his nomination papers. "There is a big difference between the 2018 and 2021 statements," the applicant said.

The applicant raised objection on Abro's nomination papers but the returning officer accepted them without hearing them, the applicant stated. He claimed Abro is a contractor, who cannot be elected on a technocrat seat.

Abro's counsel maintained that Abro is an engineer who has worked on 30 projects in 20 years, which is a national achievement. He added that the increase in Abro's assets is in accordance with the laws.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the election tribunal declared the RO's decision as void. The tribunal ordered Abro could not contest the senate polls as the objections against him in the plea had been proved.

Notice to Vawda

The election tribunal issued notices to PTI candidate Faisal Vawda and the Election Commission of Pakistan in an appeal challenging the approval of Vawda's nomination papers.

The petitioner, Qadir Khan Mandokhel has maintained in the appeal that the returning officer refused to hear the objections raised on Vawda's nomination papers. He said that the RO's action was unlawful.

The appeal moved the tribunal to reject Vawda's nomination papers and declare him ineligible for senate elections.

The tribunal issued notices to Vawda and the election commission, seeking their replies in the appeal.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2021.