June 06, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 01, 1429

LAHORE, June 5: A full bench of Lahore High Court on Thursday asked petitioners to come up with arguments on the maintainability of petitions against a decision of the Election Commission allowing PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Shahbaz to contest the by-poll.

The bench comprising Justice Fazl-i-Miran Chohan, Justice Hasnat Ahmad Khan and Justice Mohammad Ahsan Bhoon also issued notices to the PML-N leaders for June 18.

Noor Elahi, an independent candidate from NA-123 has moved the petition against Nawaz Sharif, while Khurram Shah, a voter, has challenged the candidature of Shahbaz Sharif from PP-48, Bhakkar.

The petitions were filed after an ECP tribunal handed down a split verdict on appeals challenging the candidature of the Sharif brothers.

Justice Hafiz Tariq Nasim allowed the Sharifs to contest the by-poll while Justice Muhammad Akram Qureshi held them ineligible. The counsel for the petitioner, Dr Qazi Mohiuddin, said it was unfair and illegal on the part of the election commission and the returning officers to reject objections on the grounds that no documentary evidence had been produced.

The counsel said Mr Nawaz Sharif stood disqualified for life for several reasons. “He (Nawaz) did not make an appeal after rejection of his nomination papers in the February 18 election, besides defaulting on loans of several banks,” the counsel pointed out.

He said it was wrong to assume that his (Nawaz’s) conviction stood removed with the presidential pardon.