ISLAMABAD: Five more candidates challenged rejection of their nomination papers before an election tribunal (ET) on Tuesday.

The candidates included PTI’s Niazullah Khan Niazi, Sohail Satti, Syed Zafar Ali Shah; PPP’s Syed Sibtul Haider Bukhari and Kashif Chaudhry of Jamat Islami.

They intended to contest from the National Assembly’s constituencies of NA-47 and NA-48 of Islamabad. The identical petitions requested the tribunal to set aside the decisions of the returning officers on their nomination papers to enable them to contest the elections on Feb 8.

Meanwhile, a tribunal, comprising Justice Arbab Mohammad Tahir of Islamabad High Court (IHC), took up a petition of PTI’s candidate Shuaib Shaheen whose nomination papers were rejected from all the three constituencies of Islamabad - NA-46, NA-47 and NA-48. He told the court that his nomination papers were rejected due to a default of Rs65,000 property tax.

He however said the property in question had not yet been transferred in his name, therefore, he was not supposed to pay the tax. The court issued notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and adjourned hearing till Wednesday (today).

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2024