News Analysis |
An appellate tribunal of the Lahore High Court has set aside the decision by Returning Officer (RO) rejecting Imran Khan’s nomination papers for NA-95 Mianwali. Appellate tribunal Justice Faisal Zaman Khan announced the verdict on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s appeal and allowed Khan to contest polls from NA-95.
Imran Khan had argued that the tribunal should set aside the decision of the RO to reject his nomination papers. Imran Khan’s counsel Babar Awan reaffirmed that his client had declared all his assets and there was nothing hidden or deliberately manipulated. “My client has declared all his assets,” Awan argued.
He also pointed out that the question is not about non-declaration of assets rather “The RO rejected Imran’s nomination papers on technical grounds”. Rejection of nomination papers on minor technicalities is against the norms of justice and fair play, Awan further added.
The PTI’s chief is looking forward to win majority seats in the National Assembly to form his government. Proposed electables from the PML-N and PPP appear to be strengthening Khan’s position in the upcoming general elections.
“The RO while rejecting the PTI chairman’s nomination papers alleged that the affidavit was not submitted on time and that the worth of all of his assets was not mentioned,” said Awan. He further clarified that Imran Khan had submitted every single document and if there was something missing his client was there to do the needful.
Khan’s counsel requested the tribunal to declare the RO’s decision null and void and allow Khan to contest the upcoming polls. “The tribunal should allow Imran to contest the upcoming election from NA-95,” Awan argued.
Read more: Will Imran Khan lose 2018 elections?
However, lawyer Jahandad Khan told the court, “The oath commissioner has not attested Imran’s affidavit,” which means Imran’s nomination papers can’t be accepted, he added. He also alleged that “Imran’s signatures are different on every page,” which, he pointed out, means Imran Khan did not sign the documents.
He, therefore, pleaded the tribunal to uphold the decision of the RO and not allow Khan to contest the upcoming elections. However, the appellate tribunal of the Lahore High Court set aside the RO’s decision to reject Khan’s papers and allowed Khan to move-head.
Appellate tribunal Justice Faisal Zaman Khan announced the verdict on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s appeal and allowed Khan to contest polls from NA-95.
Imran Khan’s nomination papers for NA-95 were challenged by an independent candidate for the same National Assembly seat. District Bar Association Sargodha President Ansar Abbas Baloch did file ‘objections’ on the behalf of independent candidate Manzoor Khan in the court of Returning Officer Tariq Mehmood of NA-95 Mianwali. Manzoor’s counsel claimed that “Imran Khan’s signatures on the nomination papers were dubious and declared that Imran Khan was away in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah on the day of submission”.
Read more: Will Imran Khan win elections from Karachi?
He also pointed out that the signatures on nomination papers did not match with that, affixed on his CNIC. Moreover, there were as many as 7 allegations leveled by Manzoor against the PTI chief. The petitioner had argued for the rejection of Imran Khan’s nomination papers and a declaration of ineligibility. The RO rejected Imran’s nomination papers.
Furthermore, The PTI chairman has submitted nominations from National Assembly constituencies in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Bannu and Mianwali. The PTI’s chief is looking forward to win majority seats in the National Assembly to form his government. Proposed electables from the PML-N and PPP appear to be strengthening Khan’s position in the upcoming general elections.