LAHORE: A Lahore High Court appellate tribunal on Wednesday dismissed appeals of three candidates challenging rejection of their nomination papers by respective returning officers.

Mian Munir Ahmad of PML-N had stated in his appeal that the returning officer rejected his nomination papers from NA-125, Lahore, on the ground that he was not a voter of the same constituency.

His counsel pleaded before the tribunal that the impugned decision of the RO was illogical and unlawful. He urged the tribunal to set aside the decision and allow the appellant to contest the election.

However, the tribunal comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh upheld the impugned decision of the returning officer and dismissed the appeal.

Another tribunal comprising Justice Faisal Zaman also dismissed appeals of two women candidates --Abida Raja and Nargis Faiz—against rejection of nomination papers on reserved seats.

Meanwhile, the tribunal issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and others on an appeal of former education minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani against rejection of his nomination papers from NA-143 and PP-144 of Okara.

Representing Gillani, Advocate Waqar A. Sheikh told the tribunal that the returning officer rejected the papers of his client on charges of concealing a luxury car and income tax on agricultural land.

He pointed out that Gillani had already sold his car last year and got it transferred in the name of the buyer and also paid agricultural income tax. The tribunal issued notice for Thursday (today).

Four separate appellate tribunals comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, Justice Faisal Zaman, Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh have been constituted at the principal seat to decide appeals against the decisions of the returning officers.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2018