ECP dismisses Jamshed Cheema's allegations as 'baseless'

ISLAMABAD: A day after the rejection of the nomination papers of PTI leader Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, and his wife for NA-133 (Lahore) by-poll scheduled for Dec 5, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) dismissed on Sunday the allegations he leveled against it as ill-founded.

On Saturday, the returning officer (RO) rejected the nomination papers of Cheema and his wife Musarrat (his covering candidate) on the ground that the proposers and seconders for the two are not residents of the constituency as required under the relevant election laws.

Also Read: Nomination papers of PTI candidates rejected

In a statement today, the election body said Cheema accused it of transferring the votes of his proposers from NA-133 to some other constituency.

ECP said their votes are registered in NA-130 since 2018, adding that 2018 voter lists and subsequent review lists are available on record to back up its claim. It vowed not to make any compromise over the transparency of the election.

Also Read:  PTI’s Jamshed Iqbal Cheema resigns as SAPM

On Saturday, the ruling PTI decided to challenge the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decision of rejecting the nomination papers of Cheema and his wife.

Cheema, speaking at a presser, said that no one could be barred from participating in the election process on a technical basis. “The biggest party of the country could not be deprived of the right to contest the by-election,” he said.