Plea challenging Nawaz’s eligibility deferred

ABBOTABAD:

An election tribunal in Abbottabad has adjourned the hearing on a plea challenging the acceptance of former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s nomination papers till the disposal of the lifetime disqualification case by the Supreme Court.

On Friday, the tribunal heard 19 cases and decided on 15 of them while adjourning further hearings on four cases. Captain (retd) Safdar appeared on behalf of Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif as the former ex-premier’s papers were challenged by Azam Khan Swati.

Read PHC tribunal issues notice to Nawaz

Meanwhile, the hearing on the case of former KP Assembly speaker Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani was adjourned till Saturday. Ghani’s nomination papers were rejected by the relevant returning officers for two seats on different grounds. Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani is currently in the UK and is expected to return in a couple of days. The appellate tribunal judge Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel held detailed hearings on Thursday and Friday.

In an apparent quid pro quo deal, Umar Ayub Khan and Babar Nawaz Khan have withdrawn cases against each other.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2024.