LHC rejects petition seeking disqualification of Zardari, Bilawal

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday rejected a petition seeking to restrain Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari from contesting the July 25 election.  

A single bench of the high court dismissed the petition after hearing arguments from the petitioner.

A citizen, Syed Iqtidar Haider, approached the high court pleading with it to declare the former president and his son ineligible to run in the polls.

The petitioner contended that Mr. Bhutto-Zardari used the arrow symbol on the party’s manifesto in violation of sub-section 3 of clause 215 of the Election Act 2017.

He, therefore, requested the judge to disqualify both the leaders, barring them from contesting the polls.

Mr. Bhutto-Zardari is contesting the election for the first time from three NA seats – NA-5 (Malakand), NA-200 (Larkana), and NA-246 (Karachi).

Whereas, former president Asif Ali Zardari will contest election from NA-213 (Shaheed Benazirabad).