LAHORE: A Lahore High Court tribunal on Tuesday dismissed appeals against the candidature of former foreign minister Khwaja Muhammad Asif of the PML-N and Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan of the PTI from NA-73 and NA-72 (Sialkot), respectively.

A voter from the constituency had accused Mr Asif of submitting false declaration about his assets in his nomination papers. He said the returning officer (RO) was provided with documentary evidence of assets belonging to the ex-foreign minister but he ignored the same and accepted the nomination papers of the respondent.

The appellant requested the tribunal to set aside the RO’s decision and reject Mr Asif’s papers.

Ms Awan had also been accused by a voter of her constituency of concealing three of her properties in the nomination papers. He alleged that Ms Awan also failed to provide the Election Commission with information about her marriage and children.

Counsel for the ECP opposed the appeals and argued that the ROs concerned accepted the nomination papers of the respondent candidates as per the law.

The tribunal comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi dismissed the appeals and upheld the impugned decisions of the ROs.

The tribunal also dismissed an appeal against the acceptance of nomination papers of the PML-N’s Maulana Ghayasuddin from PP-47, Narowal.

Hafiz Sher Ahmad, another candidate from the same constituency, challenged the candidature of Mr Ghayasuddin accusing him of concealing details of his assets. However, the tribunal dismissed the appeal for lack of evidence.

Another tribunal comprising Justice Faisal Zaman allowed two separate appeals and rejected nomination papers of two brothers -- Saeed Akbar Niwani from NA-98 and Rasheed Akbar Niwani from PP-90 (Bhakkar).

Inamullah Niazi, an opponent candidate, filed the appeals pleading that both respondents had previously been declared disqualified by the Supreme Court for possessing fake graduation degrees.

He said the ROs concerned ignored this fact and accepted the nomination papers of both brothers. He asked the tribunal to set aside the ROs decisions and reject the nomination papers of Niwani brothers.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2018