LARKANA, April 2: During scrutiny of nomination papers, an interesting situation developed when a lawyer objected to the honesty of former law minister Ayaz Soomro while the returning officer concerned pointed towards some outstanding dues of electricity against him on Tuesday.

Saeed Akbar Siyal alleged that he had been appointed as deputy district attorney in 2009, but was removed on the basis of a personal grudge against Mr Soomro in February 2012. Therefore, he (Mr Soomro PPP’s candidate for PS-37 (Larkana-III) was ineligible to contest the polls, said Mr Siyal.

The judge told Mr Soomro that Rs103,853 electricity dues were outstanding against his secretary Abdul Latif who resided in his (Mr Soomro) house in Shaikh Zayed Colony. Mr Soomro said that he did not have a secretary of that name.

Later, Sepco SDO Khalil Chandio told the court that there were no arrears against Mr Soomro and the amount had been shown mistakenly against Abdul Latif mentioning him as his secretary.

The lawyer also withdrew his objection when Advocate Asif Soomro, president of the high court bar association, convinced him and the papers of Mr Soomro were cleared.