NA-133 by-poll: PTI to move LHC against ECP’s decision

Party contends ‘technical glitch’ too insignificant to reject its candidate’s nomination paper

ISLAMABAD:

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday decided to file an appeal before the Lahore High Court (LHC) tribunal challenging the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to reject the nomination paper of its candidate Jamshed Iqbal Cheema for NA-133 by-poll scheduled for Dec 5.

PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry said there was great possibility that the matter would be adjudicated in PTI’s favour.

“I am 50 per cent certain that the tribunal will rule in Cheema’s favour because the technical ground cited as the reason for rejection is insignificant,” the senator was quoted as saying.Syed Basit Ali Shah, the returning officer, had on Saturday rejected the nomination papers of former special assistant to the prime minister on food security Jamshed Iqbal Cheema over anomalies found in his candidature.

The nomination papers of his wife, Musarrat Cheema, who was his covering candidate, were also rejected on similar grounds.

The ECP had found anomalies during the scrutiny of nomination papers after the PML-N’s advocate Naseer Bhutta filed objections to the couple’s candidature.The returning officer said that the proposers for the two candidates are not residents of the constituency as required under the election laws.