LAHORE: An election tribunal on Monday sought a reply from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on an appeal of senior leader of PML-N Pervaiz Rashid challenging rejection of his nomination papers by the returning officer for the Senate polls.

Earlier, Rashid’s counsel argued before the tribunal that the appellant had never been informed by the officials of the Punjab House in writing that he owed any amount to it in terms of rent charges. He said the RO gave the appellant one-day time for the payment of the amount, however, the officials concerned did not receive the same.

Justice Shahid Waheed, the one-member tribunal, asked the counsel whether the appellant availed the accommodation at the Punjab House during 2011 to 2018.

The counsel said it had been alleged that the appellant had been a defaulter since 2011 whereas he was elected Senator in the same year.

At this, the tribunal also sought personal appearance of a responsible official of the Punjab House along with complete record.

The tribunal will resume hearing on Tuesday (today).

The appellant had contended that the RO acted beyond his jurisdiction and unlawfully rejected his nomination papers. He asked the tribunal to set aside the impugned decision of the RO and allow him to contest election.

On objections filed by PTI MPA Zainab Umar and Advocate Rana Mudassir, a member of Insaf Lawyers Forum, the RO rejected the nomination papers of Mr Rashid. They contended that Mr Rashid, also a former senator, was a defaulter of Punjab House and the unpaid amount was over Rs9 million.

As per the documents produced by the objectors, Rashid owed Rs7.05m, including Rs0.69m charges for his stay between January and August 2011 and Rs6.4m from June 2013 to May 2018. He also owed another amount of Rs 2.7m for the stay of his daughter Poonam Rashid in the Punjab House.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2021