LAKKI MARWAT, Nov 17: Additional District and Sessions Judge-I Lakki Abdul Ghafoor Qurashi, who also holds the office of Returning Officer PF-75 (Lakki Marwat-II), rejected the nomination papers of Malik Noor Salim Khan, brother of disqualified MPA Malik Imran Khan Marwat, on Thursday.

One Inamullah Khan Advocate, a close ally of the Saifullah family, had raised objections on the nomination papers of Malik Noor Salim Khan through a petition, citing pendency of criminal cases against him “as he was charged under section 302/324/34 PPC in FIR No. 278 dated 28-08-2002 in police station Darra Pezu”.

The petitioner contended that dues of revenue department were outstanding against the candidate and that information furnished by him relating to payment of taxes was also incorrect.

He also raised questions about Malik Noor’s property value and charged that he had concealed his public liabilities by leaving the relevant column in the nomination papers blank.

The RO heard the arguments from both sides on Thursday.

Advocate Munawar Khan and Advocate Najibullah Khan represented the candidate and pleaded that their client was acquitted in a murder case on July 18, 2005, and as such no criminal case was now pending against him.

However, the RO rejected the papers on the ground that a case should not be pending against a candidate six months before he files his nomination papers. This was not the case with Malik Noor.