DERA ISMAIL KHAN/SWAT: The respective returning officers on Friday rejected the nomination papers of former federal ministers and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur and Murad Saeed.

Adnan Khan Ghaznikhel, the lawyer of Ali Amin, told Dawn that the nomination papers of his client were rejected by the returning officers of NA-44 and NA-45 in Dera Ismail Khan.

He added hearing into the objections raised on the nomination papers of Ali Amin and his brother, Faisal Amin Gandapur for the provincial constituencies would be held on Saturday (today).

However, he said nomination papers of Ali Amin’s father, Major retired Aminullah Khan Gandapur and his wife, Mahnaz Ali were accepted for both NA and PA seats.

He added nomination papers of Faisal Amin were also accepted for NA-44 seat.

In Swat, the returning officer on Friday rejected the nomination papers of former federal minister Murad Saeed and PTI’s former MNAs and MPAs on various grounds.

According to Suhail Sultan Advocate, a PTI lawyer, the candidates whose nominations were rejected included Murad Saeed for NA-4, former MNA Saleem-ur-Rehman for NA-2, former MPA Fazal Hakim Khan for PK-6, former provincial minister Dr Amjad Khan for PK-7, and former MPA Mian Sharafat Ali for PK-3.

The rejection of their nomination papers is attributed to various cases, including those listed under the Schedule Four.

Mr Saeed has been hiding since May 9 incidents, while the other leaders are on bail.

The returning officers rejected nomination papers of Mr Saeed and others on the grounds that the courts had declared them as wanted in various cases.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023