LHC issues pre-admission notices to Awan, ECP, Attorney General

Court issued notices in relation to a petition challenging acceptance of Awan’s nomination papers for senate election.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday issued pre-admission notices to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Babar Awan, Election Commission Pakistan and Attorney General of Pakistan in relation to a writ petition challenging acceptance of Awan’s nomination papers for senate election.

The petition, filed by Advocate Shahid Jami, stated that Awan has accumulated assets which do not match the amount of income tax he had paid. The petitioner also revealed that Awan’s assets had increased from Rs46,370,000 in 2006 to Rs.328,703,323 in 2011.

Jami said that Awan failed to pay agriculture income tax despite having agriculture land worth Rs21,500,000 and agriculture equipment worth Rs1,000,000.

The petitioner further argued that Awan had ridiculed the higher judiciary for which the Supreme Court had already suspended his license. He added that Awan was registered as a voter in Rawalpindi however he resides in Islamabad and has no property in Rawalpindi.

The petitioner prayed the court to set aside the order of election commission to accept Awan’s nomination papers.

The LHC also appointed senior lawyers Salman Akram Raja and Ali Zafar as amicus curiae to assist the court in the next hearing on February 28.