October 5, 2002	Saturday	Rajab 27, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the attorney general on the petitions of Mian Shahbaz Sharif, and Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, praying that they should be allowed to enter the political arena.

The petitioners have offered to bear all the expenses on the printing of ballot papers at this latter stage.

The petitions were taken up by the chief justice in his chamber, who issued notice to the attorney general for Monday.

The applications were filed against the LHC decision which had dismissed the writ petitions of Ittefaq family members, challenging the election tribunal’s decision of disqualifying them from contesting elections.

They are confined to the question of authenticity of the signatures of both Mian Shahbaz Sharif, and Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.

Advocate Ashtar Ausaf Ali represented the petitioners.

Nomination forms: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the federation and candidates contesting elections from NA-246 and NA-248 for October 8 on a petition filed by Maulvi Iqbal Haider, Chairman of Awami Himayat Tehreek.

Maulvi Iqbal Haider in his petition stated that he had not filed the nomination form in protest as it empowered the non-Muslims to cross the column requiring them to declare they believed that the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) was the last prophet of Allah.

He further contended that the declaration that Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was the last prophet of Allah, was after the declaration of allegiance to the ideology of Pakistan.

His petition had been dismissed by the SHC, and he filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.