KARACHI, Aug 2: The Sindh High Court allowed two candidates for the offices of nazim and deputy nazim of a Naushehro Feroze union council to contest the forthcoming polls.

The petitioner panel’s nomination papers were rejected by the returning officer as the candidate for deputy nazim’s office, Iqbal Ahmed Leghari, was allegedly involved in a murder case. There was no objection to the papers submitted by Mohammad Yunus, a candidate for the nazim’s office, union council Fato Bilal, Moro.

Representing the petitioners, Advocate Ghulamullah Memon submitted that Iqbal Leghari’s name was dropped from the list of accused after preliminary investigations. He was discharged by police and no case was pending against him. Besides, the alleged offence he was charged with did not involve moral turpitude.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Zia Pervez, allowed the petition and directed the returning officer to let the petitioners contest the polls.

Meanwhile, another division bench, comprising Justices S. Ali Aslam Jafri and Azizullah M. Memon, issued notices to the district returning officer and the Election Commission in two petitions moved by two candidates whose nominations were rejected.

Petitioner Sher Afzal, who is seeking election to the office of nazim, union council six, Gadap Town, Karachi, stated through Advocate Raana Khan that he mistakenly submitted his papers before the Lyari returning officer.

The returning officer, instead of asking him to submit his nomination before returning officer concerned, transferred it to the Gadap Town RO. The transfer was challenged by his rival, who said there was no provision for transfer of papers in the election law. Observing that the petitioner should have taken due caution to submit his papers before the RO concerned, the bench issued notices to the respondents for Aug 4.

The bench also issued notices to the respondents for Aug 4 in a petition moved by Nurul Ain, a candidate for a general Muslim seat of Dhabeji union council. His counsel, Raana Khan, submitted that his papers were rejected because his name did not appear in the 2000-2001 voters’ list. The lawyer said the list was revised and the candidate’s name was mentioned in the new electoral rolls.

Candidate Pir Khan’s petition against rejection of his papers for a general seat of union council seven, Site Town, was, however, dismissed. He failed to produce his papers before the competent RO. Candidate Tariq Ali’s petition for disqualification of his rival, Nazakat Ali, from a Kandhkot union council was also dismissed. He alleged that the rival candidate fraudulently obtained fake identity cards.