Imran moves tribunal against rejection of nomination papers

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Wednesday filed an appeal with an appellate tribunal against rejection of his nomination papers for NA-53 Islamabad.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will take up his appeal on Thursday (tomorrow).

The PTI chief through his lawyer filed the appeal, questioning the verdict of the returning officer who rejected his nomination papers for NA-53.

The appellant has taken the stance that the decision to reject his papers is in contravention of the Constitution and pleaded that he should be permitted to contest the elections from NA-53 constituency.

The RO a day earlier rejected the nomination papers of Imran Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ayesha Gulalai for NA-53 constituency.

According to the ECP, the nomination forms were turned down over violation of Section N of the affidavit, relating to development work a candidate undertook in their constituency.

The objection raised by the returning officer stated that the respective candidates failed to fill up affidavit according to the conditions mentioned.

The candidates whose nomination forms have been rejected are likely to challenge the decision in the ECP tribunal.

Imran Khan’s nomination papers for NA-53 had been challenged last week.

Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party (PJDP) leader Abdul Wahab Baloch filed objections with the Returning Officer concerned, pointing out the issue of Sita White case.

He argued that the PTI chief is not eligible to contest the elections as he didn’t meet the criterion laid down under articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

Earlier, Former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary, the head of PJDP, had claimed in an interview that he has evidence to show that Khan has admitted to being the father of Tyrian White while abroad, but denies the same in Pakistan.

The former CJP subsequently filed a case with the RO against Khan’s eligibility to hold public office under Article 62 (1)(f).

The last date for appellate tribunals of the ECP for deciding appeals against decisions of returning officers will be June 26.

According to the schedule, the list of the valid candidates will be published on June 27, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be June 28.

The ECP will allocate election symbols to candidates on June 29 and the final list of the contesting candidates will be displayed the same day.