LAHORE, April 15: A Lahore High Court election tribunal on Monday dismissed appeals challenging the acceptance of nomination papers of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and former information minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira.

The tribunal comprising Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh and Justice Shahid Waheed also accepted an appeal of PPP leader Imtiaz Safdar Warraich and set aside order of the returning officer of NA-98 (Gujranwala).

Warraich’s nomination papers were rejected for concealing assets. He filed appeal through Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan against the rejection of his papers.

Eight appeals had been filed against candidature of Nawaz from NA-120 and NA-119 (Lahore) and five against Shahbaz from NA-128 and PP-161 (Lahore).

The appellants had accused Sharif brothers of concealing their assets at the time of filing nomination papers. They also sought disqualification of both leaders in the light of Supreme Court judgment in Asghar Khan case.

The appellants argued that it had been established that both leaders had received money from secret agencies to maneuver 1990 general election.

Nawaz Sharif was also accused of being involved in laundering of billions of US dollars.

One of the appellants also accused PML-N chief of illegally occupying her ancestral property in Shahalam area.

Two appeals were filed against Mr Kaira of the PPP from a National Assembly constituency of Gujrat. The tribunal heard arguments from both sides and dismissed the appeals.

Another tribunal comprising Justice Khwaja Imtiaz Ahmad and Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan allowed an appeal of Samina Khawar Hayat of PML-Q. The ECP had dismissed her nomination papers for a reserved seat. The tribunal, meanwhile, reserved verdict on Seemal Kamran’s appeal against rejection of her candidature for a reserved seat.

The same tribunal issued notice on an appeal of a former MPA of PPP, Aslam Midhyana, from Gujranwala. The returning officer had rejected his papers for being involved in criminal cases.

Midhyana challenged the decision pleading that no one could be restrained from contesting elections merely for facing cases. He said there was no conviction from any court of law. The tribunal issued notice on the appeal for Tuesday (today).