LAHORE: A Lahore High Court two-judge bench will on Thursday (today) take up the writ petitions of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s candidate for NA-133, Lahore by-poll, Jamshed Cheema and his wife, a covering candidate, against the rejection of their nomination papers by the returning officer and an election tribunal.

The bench comprises Justice Shahid Waheed and Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal.

The RO had rejected the nomination papers of the couple on the basis that their proposer was not a registered voter of the constituency they were contesting from (NA-133). They challenged the decision before the election tribunal, which also dismissed their appeal and upheld the rejection of their papers.

PML-N’s voters had challenged the nomination papers of the PTI candidates, saying the proposer, Bilal Hussain, was not qualified to subscribe the papers of the duo under the Elections Act, 2017.

The Lahore constituency, where by-poll is to be held, had fallen vacant due to the death of PML-N MNA Pervaiz Malik.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the by-poll for Dec 5 and the PML-N nominated late MNA’s widow Shaista Pervez Malik as its candidate.

In their writ petitions, the PTI’s candidates have also sought suspension of the schedule for the by-election till final decision of the case.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2021