KARACHI, Sept 5: The chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party challenged on Thursday rejection of her nomination papers for two general and one reserved National Assembly seats.

Benazir Bhutto filed appeal against the rejection of her nomination papers for a seat reserved for women before the election appellate tribunal at Karachi through her attorney. For the general seats of NA-204 and NA-207, Larkana, similar appeals were filed at Sukkur.

In Karachi today 19 appeals were filed for and against the rejection and acceptance of nomination papers before the Sindh Election Appellate Tribunal, bringing the total number of appeals to 25 since Wednesday.

Ms Bhutto’s attorney, Farooq H. Naek, has taken a position in the appeal that Radio Pakistan, Karachi, in its 2pm broadcast on 1st September had declared that nomination papers of the appellant had been rejected whereas the respondent No 1 scrutinized the appellant’s nomination papers at 3pm on the same day.

At the time of scrutiny no objection was filed by anyone, including the respondent No 3, to the nomination papers of the appellant.

Ms Bhutto’s papers were rejected on the basis of the so-called objection filed by Hameeda Qadir (respondent No 3) that, the appellant had been convicted and sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment under section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance by accountability courts at Rawalpindi, in each of the three reference Nos 23/2000, 26/2000 and 41/2000 on 21. 5. 2002, 9. 6. 2001 and 9. 7 2002, respectively. The objector had, according to the returning officer, maintained that Ms Bhutto was thus disqualified to be elected or chosen as member from the seats reserved for women in the National Assembly from Sindh under section 99 (r) of the Representation of People Act of 1976.

Ayesha Junejo, widow of former prime minister Mohammed Khan Junejo, from PS-58 Badin, has filed appeal against the rejection of her papers due to a typographical mistake in her educational documents.

Mir Munawwar Talpur’s nomination papers from PS-68 were rejected on the premise that his name was not in the voters list. Mr Talpur is brother-in-law of Ms Bhutto’s interned husband, Asif Ali Zardari, and has contested elections from that constituency many times.

Matiur Rahman’s papers for PS-103 has been rejected and he has appealed against rejection of his papers because his seconder’s name was not in the voters list.

Farhat Ijaz of the Sunni Tehreek (NA-54) is in appeal against the rejection of his papers due to a typographical mistake in his name. Ayesha Pedaishi Leader (NA-247) could not fulfil educational requirement as was also the case of Haji Mir Mohammed Hiyat Khan, independent candidate from PS-66. Tariq Afridi, independent candidate from NA-293, has also contested the rejection of his papers because his proposer was not enlisted as voter in the constituency.

Appeals have also been filed by Kamal Khan, candidate for a reserved seat, Asghar Ali from PS-105 and NA-246 ; Buddo Khan from PS-59, and Syed Akhtar from PS-101 (under-graduates), Uzma Malik of the PP Parliamentarians from PS-101, and Nadim Ahmed of the Awami Tehreek from PS-66.

Syed Mohammed Shah filed appeals against the acceptance of nomination papers of People’s Party Parliamentarians leader Pir Mazharul Haq and his daughter Marvi Mazharul Haq from PS-74.

Khan Mohammed Halepota filed appeals against the acceptance of nomination papers of another PP Parliamentarians candidate, Dr Fahmida Mirza, and Qazi Mohammed, from NA-225.

The Provincial Election Commissioner, Sindh, has fixed Sept 7 for the hearing of appeals of Shaikh Irfan (PS-253), Babu Lachman Manghwar (PS-61), Khawaja Habibullah (PS-18), Aamir Abdul Razzak Memon of the Pakistan Freedom Party (PS-90), Mohammed Saeed Siddiqui of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (PS-113) and Mir Muhammad an independent from PS-60.