ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition challenging the candidature of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry from constituency NA-67 Jhelum with an observation that the petitioner had not raised objections at the time of filing of nomination papers by the candidate.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed that took up the petition of Syed Fakhar Haider against his opponent Chaudhry said that objections were raised against the PTI candidate after acceptance of his nomination papers.

In June, a division bench of the Lahore High Court had suspended the decision of an election tribunal which had disqualified Mr Chaudhry, and allowed the candidate to contest July 25 general election from his hometown Jhelum.

The tribunal comprising Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi had disqualified Mr Chaudhry under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution on an appeal filed by Mr Haider. But the PTI candidate had challenged the decision before the high court through a petition with a pleading to restore the decision of the returning officer to accept his nomination papers.

The high court had set aside the order of tribunal and allowed Mr Chaudhry to contest the election.

Consequently petitioner Haider moved to the Supreme Court with a pleading that Mr Chaudhry in his nomination papers had mentioned his occupation as legal practice but he also stated that he was drawing salary.

Mr Chaudhry in the nomination papers supported by an affidavit had mentioned that he was a lawyer while in his tax return for the years 2015-16 and 2016-17 he had mentioned himself as a salaried person.

Moreover, his opponent had not correctly written his name in his nomination papers and concealed the business matters of his wife, the petitioner said.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2018