LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed for not being maintainable a petition seeking disqualification of former president Asif Ali Zardari and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for their alleged violation of the Election Act 2017.

A citizen, Syed Iqtidar Shah, had filed the petition pleading that the law did not allow any political party to use election symbol of any other party. However, he said, Bilawal Bhutto used the symbol of PPP-Parliamentarian, headed by Mr Zardari, on the flags and manifesto of the PPP. He said the act of the respondents was a violation of section 215 (3) of the Election Act 2017.

The petitioner asked the court to declare both Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto disqualified to contest the upcoming general election for violation of the law.

Through another petition, Mr Shah also asked the court to declare all candidates disqualified who failed to fill column “L” in the nomination papers, which required complete copy of passport. He pleaded that most of the candidates had not provided complete details of their passport.

However, Justice Shahid Karim dismissed both petitions for not being maintainable.

Published in Dawn, July 07th, 2018