ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will take up on Monday an appeal against a recent decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) to reject applications challenging the candidacy of Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, to contest a by-election in the Lahore’s NA-120 constituency.

Moved by Advocate Zafar Hussain Chaudhry on behalf of Faisal Mir, the PPP’s candidate in the by-poll, the appeal will be heard by a three-judge bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, a day after a major electoral battle in the constituency considered to be the stronghold of the Sharifs.

On Sept 13, an LHC bench by a majority of 2-1 had dismissed three identical petitions challenging Ms Nawaz’s candidacy.

In his plea, Mr Mir argued that his opponent had failed to submit full details of her tax returns and statements of assets and liabilities.

He contended that Ms Sharif purposely concealed her assets and did not disclose a United Arab Emirates Iqama (work permit) attached to her nomination papers; therefore, she was ineligible to participate in the by-election under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

The petitioner pleaded that Ms Sharif was a direct beneficial owner of the assets highlighted in the Joint Investigation Team’s investigation and the subject matter of National Accountability Bureau references pending before an accountability court.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2017