May 28, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1429

LAHORE, May 27: Litigation over the acceptance of nomination papers of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Patron Mian Nawaz Sharif for NA-123 continues as a tribunal has served fresh notice on the former premier in another appeal after disposing of an appeal by Ikhlaque Guddu.

Mr Guddu, earlier a PML-Q candidate, withdrew his appeal against the acceptance of nomination papers of Mr Sharif, as well as his candidature on Monday.

The tribunal, consisting of justices Muhammad Akram Qureshi and Hafiz Tariq Nasim, issued notice for May 30 on an application by Syed Khurram Shah against the nomination papers of Mr Sharif.

Petitioner’s council Dr Mohyuddin Qazi said under section 14(5)a of Representation of People Act, 1976, a tribunal had power to judge the eligibility of a candidate. He said he had invoked tribunal's jurisdiction under the provision of law.

The petitioner said Mr Sharif was ineligible for elections under articles 62 and 63 of the constitution because of his conviction in the hijacking and the helicopter tax evasion cases.

He said both convictions were never set aside by any superior court. The petitioner alleged that Nawaz was publicly undermining integrity of the judiciary and armed forces through propaganda.

Sharifs’ pleas: An election tribunal of the Lahore High Court (LHC) hearing petitions against the candidature of the Sharif brothers has sent cases to the chief justice for placing them before some other appropriate tribunal.

Another tribunal sent an appeal to the chief justice against the acceptance of nomination papers of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Patron Nawaz Sharif for NA-52 after the petitioner Shahid Orakzai said Justice Mian Najmuz Zaman had earlier heard a similar matter he had brought to the court in 2002.

Orakzai has challenged the nomination papers of Nawaz for NA-52 and Shahbaz Sharif for PP-10, Rawalpindi. Nawaz, however, has withdrawn his papers for NA-52 and his son-in-law Capt Safdar will contest by-polls from the constituency as the PML-N candidate.

Another election tribunal on an election petition issued notice to Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan for May 29 to reply to the allegations leveled against him.

Ubaidullah, a voter of PP-70, Faisalabad, has challenged the acceptance of papers of Sanaullah, alleging the minister made derogatory remarks against the judiciary. He said according to Article 63(1) g of constitution, such a person was not eligible to contest elections.