LAHORE, Feb 20: Accepting appeals of two PPP-P nominees from Punjab, the Election Commission has set aside returning officer’s orders rejecting their candidatures for Senate polls to be held on March 6.

The returning officer had rejected Dr Israr Shah’s papers against technocrat’s seat on the plea that the candidate did not have 20 years of experience as a technocrat. Akbar Khwaja’s nomination had been rejected for the party ticket attached with the papers did not carry date.

Both the candidates had challenged the decision through Advocate Hanif Tahir. Election Commission member Justice Nasim Sikandar heard the appeals and reserved the decision on Saturday. Announcing the decision on Monday, he accepted nominations of both of them.