December 13, 2007	Thursday	Zilhaj 2, 1428

QUETTA, Dec 12: The Balochistan election tribunal on Wednesday disqualified the PPP candidate for NA-270 and PB-45 seats (Lasbela), former federal minister Mir Akbar Lasi, on an appeal of former chief minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf.

Mr Yousuf had challenged the acceptance of Akbar Lasi’s candidature, saying that a person who had “entered into a bargain plea with the National Accountability Bureau in a corruption reference” could not contest elections for a certain period.

The tribunal comprising Chief Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and Justice Akhtar Zaman Malghani rejected an appeal of Surat Khan Kakar against the acceptance of nomination papers of Malik Sarwar Khan Kakar, a PML (Q) candidate for the PB-9 seat (Pishin).

Surat Kakar had alleged that his rival had entered into a bargain plea with the NAB in a corruption reference and had submitted a forged degree.

The tribunal also rejected appeals of Jamil Ramzan and Naseemur Rehman against the acceptance of nomination papers of their rival candidates.