ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Appellate tribunals on Monday allowed PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif, PTI leader Mian Azhar and others to contest elections.
PML-N president and former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif was cleared by an appellate tribunal to vie for election from NA 242 (Karachi).
Appellate tribunal, while rejecting the appeal of Masood Khan Mandokhel, allowed younger Sharif to take part in election for NA 242.
Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Mian Azhar got go ahead by an appellate tribunal from NA 129 (Lahore) constituency with acceptance of his nomination papers.
Tribunal judge Justice Tariq Nadeem heard the appeal of PTI candidate and declared returning officer's decision as null and void.
An election tribunal rejected appeal of PTI candidate Ebad Farooq from PP 150 against RO's decision to reject papers .
An election tribunal upheld decision of the returning officer in respect of PPP candidate Jamal Raisani. The RO had rejected nomination papers of the PPP candidate from NA 264 (Quetta).
PTI candidates Atif Ayub Mayo and Ammar Ali Jan were cleared by election tribunal to contest polls from PP 160. Both had challenged RO's decision for rejecting their nomination papers.
While allowing the appeal of both PTI candidates, Justice Tariq Nadeem of Lahore High Court said everyone should keep in mind that judges were hearing the appeal of candidates with open mind and heart. He remarked that court was deciding appeals as per law and constitution. He said they had no prior mindset
PTI candidate Muhammad Farooq's nomination papers for PS 125 were rejected. The appellate tribunal judge upheld the decision of the returning officer.
Similarly, PTI candidates Amjad Khan from PS 116, Hassan Zaib from PS 118 and Abdul Qayyum from PS 63 (Hyderabad) were granted permission to vie for election. The appellate tribunal turned down ROs decision of rejecting their papers.
The appellate tribunal would continue hearing and deciding the appeals filed by candidates against ROs' decision till January 10.
Meanwhile, GDA candidates Zulfiqar Mirza and Fehmida Mirza's nomination papers were not accepted by the election tribunal. The tribunal upheld the decision of RO.
Ali Amin Gandapur was also allowed to contest polls by an appellate tribunal from NA 144 and two provincial assembly constituencies.