PTI lawyers decry ‘illegal scrutiny’

PTI candidates are being summoned to office under guise of scrutiny, lawyers

RAWALPINDI:

Lawyers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are alleging deliberate and unlawful hindrances in the scrutiny of the party leaders’ general election nomination papers.

As the scrutiny process unfolds for the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8, 71 candidates, including prominent figures like Sheikh Rashid, Raja Hamid Nawaz, and Rashid Shafiq, have had their nominations approved. However, the Returning Officer (RO) has chosen not to scrutinise the nomination papers of PTI’s former ministers, Basharat Raja, Rashid Hafeez, and Raja Nasir, unless they appear in person for the process.

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In response, the lawyers representing the three candidates argue that the RO’s request is illegal, emphasising the absence of any legal requirement for nominees to be physically present during the scrutiny of papers.

They highlight the approval of former interior minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan’s papers, despite his absence. Furthermore, they cite an Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party candidate whose papers were approved with only his son present at the scrutiny office.

The lawyers contend that the PTI candidates are being summoned to the office under the guise of scrutiny.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2023.