November 24, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 13, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 23: A petition has been filed before the chief election commissioner of Pakistan for allowing Aitzaz Ahsan and others, behind bars, to file nomination papers.

Dr Tariq Hasan filed the petition because under the election rules a candidate must file his nomination papers before the returning officer in person. He said all petitioners were qualified under Section 12 of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, to file their nomination papers.

“Due to their unlawful detention, the petitioners are unable to prepare various documents required by law to be filed along with their nomination papers,” stated the petition. The documents needed to be filed with nomination papers include: a verification of affiliation with a political party, a statement of assets as well as details of assets of their family members, and details of educational qualifications.

Dr Hasan said in his petition that Mr Ahsan, Sardar Asmatullah, Amin Jawed, Ghulam Nabi Bhatti, Liaqat Baloch, Jamil Abbasi and some social workers had been arbitrarily arrested after of the imposition of emergency rule on Nov 3.

“Since their arrest, the authorities have neither produced them in any court nor framed charges against them,” he said.

The petitioner said he had met Mr Ahsan and Mr Abbasi, who told him that they wanted to file nomination papers for contesting the general elections.

In order to ensure that the requisite documents are duly prepared and filed before the Election Commission in time, it is necessary that the petitioners be released or allowed to meet those who could prepare and file the required documents, he said.

“The petitioners reserve the right to withdraw their nomination papers in case their political parties are unable or unwilling to contest the upcoming elections,” the lawyer said.

NO NOMINATION PAPERS: The Muslim League-Nawaz Lawyers’ Forum has decided not to file nomination papers till the return of party chief Mian Nawaz Sharif to home.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the lawyers’ forum Punjab with Nasir Ahmed Bhutta in chair. The meeting also discussed arrangements for according a warm welcome to the former prime minister on his return from exile.

The forum also resolved to continue struggle for the reinstatement of judges of superior courts, release of detained lawyers and lifting of emergency and curbs on the media for ensuring fair elections.