Nomination forms of GDA, PTI leaders rejected

Development triggered protest of workers of PTI outside RO office

HYDERABAD:

The nomination forms of some of the prominent leaders of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been rejected in Sindh, drawing allegations that the bureaucracy while acting as the returning officers is pandering to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The forms of GDA leaders and former ministers Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and his wife, former National Assembly's speaker, Dr Fehmida Mirza, have been rejected by the returning officers of NA-223 and PS-71 in Badin district.

However, the forms of their sons Hasnain Mirza and Hassam Mirza have been cleared for the PS-71 constituency. 

The couple had faced objections from their political opponent Haji Rasool Bux Chandio, who is associated with the PPP.

He challenged through advocate Manzoor Ahmed Chandio the nominations on the basis that both of the former ministers were bank defaulters.

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Talking to the media in Badin, Dr Fehmida said the revenue officials who were working under the government of PPP in Sindh, have been appointed as the District Returning Officers (DRO) and Returning Officers (RO) and through them their forms have been rejected.

She recalled that their forms were also rejected in the previous general election but they secured relief from the court where the allegation of bank default was not proven.

She further said that they will challenge the rejection in the tribunal and, if required, in the court.

On the other hand, the supporters of Chandio celebrated in Badin the rejection of the candidature of Dr Zulfiqar and Dr Fehmida.

Likewise, the forms of PTI leader and former foreign minister, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, were also rejected from Tharparakar district's NA-214 constituency, based in Chachro and Nagarparkar talukas.

The RO Asif Ali Khaskheli cited the absence of no dues certificates as the reason behind the rejection.

The development has triggered a protest of the workers of PTI outside the RO office.

The party's local leader Lekhraj Malhi blamed the RO for being partisan. He said that the decision will be challenged.

The GDA's leader Muhammad Khan Junejo's form filed for NA- 209 in Sanghar district was also rejected on the objection of Asad Burdi.

The complainant claimed that Juenjo was declared ineligible for a lifetime in a fake degree case by the court.

Talking to the media, Junejo alleged that the PPP wanted to bar him from taking part in the elections, fearing defeat in the constituency.

"If convicts like Miaz Nawaz Sharif can contest the polls, why can't I?" he questioned.