imran-khan-670-afp
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief, Imran Khan carries bat despite five appeals. — Photo by AFP

LAHORE: An election tribunal of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday dismissed the five appeals against acceptance of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan's nomination papers and allowed an appeal against candidature of former PML-Q MNA Chaudhry Wajahat Husain.

Another election tribunal also dismissed appeals of former PPP MPA Aslam Midhyana and PML-Q’s Seemal Kamran against rejection of their papers from Sargodha and on a reserved seat, respectively.

Appellants had challenged the nomination papers of Imran Khan from NA-122, Lahore, saying he was dishonest and not a righteous person.

They alleged that Mr Khan had relations with a European woman, Sita White, and had also a daughter out of that relation.

It was contended that a local court of California had also verified the relations between Mr Khan and Ms White and parenthood of their daughter.

They further alleged that Jamaima Khan, former wife of Mr Khan, was no more Muslim but still had the custody of his kids.

The appellants pleaded that the PTI chairman was liable to be disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

The counsel for Mr Khan argued that all allegations were fabricated and part of a vilification campaign.

He said neither the US court passed any order against Mr Khan nor was it applicable in Pakistan.

The tribunal, comprising Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh and Justice Shahid Waheed, dismissed the appeals.

Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gull of the PPP had challenged the acceptance of Wajahat Hussain’s nomination papers from NA-104 and PP-108, Gujrat.

He accused Mr Hussain of getting bank loans written off and also concealing his assets in the nomination papers.

Mr Gull had also filed an appeal against rejection of his nomination papers from the same constituencies “for being a dual national”.

He pleaded that he had surrendered the foreign nationality but the returning officer ignored the facts and documents submitted by him (Gull).

The tribunal accepted appeals, rejecting the nomination of Mr Hussain and allowing Mr Gull to contest the election.

The other tribunal, comprising Justice Khwaja Imtiaz Ahmad and Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan, dismissed appeals of Midhyana and Seemal Kamran.

The returning officer of PP-31, Sargodha had rejected the nomination papers of Midhyana for being involved in dozens of criminal cases and illegal possession of a government school.

A schoolteacher, Nafees Ahmad had raised objections to the candidature of Midhyana before the RO.

The former MPA was also involved in torturing the schoolteacher and breaking his legs.

The ECP had rejected the nomination papers of Ms Kamran on charges of having contested the 2008 election on a fake graduation degree.

The tribunal dismissed appeals of both.

Three election tribunals worked at the principal seat of the LHC to hear appeals against decisions of returning officers.

As April 17 (Wednesday) was the last date to decide all such appeals, the tribunals continued to work till evening.

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