Candidates move court against ‘harassment’

Ex-federal minister, governor among applicants

MULTAN:

Several prospective electoral candidates complaining of being targeted by police and having had their nomination papers rejected have approached the courts. Among them is ex-federal minister Zartaj Gul and ex-Punjab governor Mustafa Khar.

Former federal minister Zartaj Gul’s petition against harassment and the rejection of her nomination papers was heard by a high court bench on Tuesday. Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar of the Lahore High Court ordered the relevant institutions to investigate the petition filed against harassment by police and anti-corruption personnel. Similarly, Justice Ali Zia Bajwa of the Election Tribunal summoned the concerned returning officer along with the records of a separate application filed over the rejection of the nomination papers on January 4.

Former minister Gul filed a writ petition related to harassment with the High Court Multan Bench. She contended that various cases have been registered against her, but no details are being given. She has to contest in the upcoming general election, but police are allegedly harassing her.

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The ex-minister argued that details of cases registered should be provided to her. On the order of the high court, the details of the cases were released on Tuesday.

Police provided the details, according to which three cases are currently registered against Zartaj Gul in Anti-Corruption Police Station, Darahma Police Station and Gadai DG Khan Police Station. After the details of the cases came out, Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar of Multan Bench has ordered the relevant institutions to investigate the case.

Similarly, Zartaj Gul filed an election petition in which she contended that she is contesting the election from National Assembly Constituency NA-185.

However, her nomination papers have been rejected by the Returning Officer without any justification. On this, Justice Ali Zia Bajwa of the Appellate Tribunal summoned the concerned returning officer along with the record on January 4.

Lahore High Court Multan Bench Justice Muhammad Tariq Nadeem ordered DPO Muzaffargarh not to harass former Punjab governor Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar, his wife Ayunia Mustafa Khar and their supporters. With these directions, the harassment petition was disposed of.

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Mustafa Khar’s counsel Farah Sharif Khosa contended that her client submitted his nomination papers from the National Assembly Constituency NA-180, while his wife Ayunia Mustafa Khar also submitted nomination papers from the same constituency.

However, their nominations were rejected and they were targeted by police.

Allegedly, authorities have been harassing leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) for some time, including Khar, his family and even his in-laws.

This is against the spirit of free and fair elections and the high court is requested to stop the harassment of the police so that the petitioner can freely participate in the election, the counsel argued.

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The series of appeals filed by the candidates participating in the elections against the decisions of the returning officers continued yesterday.

Forty five different appeals were filed in Lahore High Court Multan Bench on Tuesday, however the deadline for these appeals is January 3.

The appellate Tribunal heard appeals from candidates including Abdul Majeed Niazi, Anbar Majeed, Muhammad Asif Saleem, Sultan Bibi, Bushra Bibi and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2024.