LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) full bench on Thursday issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on writ petitions of PTI vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi against rejection of his nomination papers from two constituencies of the national assembly and one of provincial.

The bench, headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, sought replies from the ECP by Friday (today).

Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan and Justice Jawad Hassan are other members of the bench, constituted to decide petitions against the decisions of the appellate tribunals in Punjab.

The returning officers (ROs) of NA-150, NA-151 and PP-218 of Multan had rejected the nomination papers of the jailed former foreign minister for not submitting necessary documents.

An appellate tribunal also upheld the decision of the ROs.

The full bench also issued a notice to the ECP on a writ petition of PTI social media activist Sanam Javed challenging the rejection of her nomination papers from NA-119 and PP-150, Lahore.

A lawyer for the petitioner argued that the ROs had rejected the papers of his client on the ground of not disclosing a joint bank account. He said the bank account in question was dormant and not in the use of the petitioner for a long time. He said the appellate tribunal also dismissed the appeal of the petitioner contrary to the facts.

DISMISSED: A Lahore High Court (LHC) full bench dismissed an appeal against the acceptance of nomination papers of columnist Ayaz Amir from NA-60, Jhelum.

Muhammad Bilal, a voter of the constituency, filed the appeal.

PETITIONS: Imprisoned PTI President Parvez Elahi, his wife Qaisera Elahi and son Moonis Elahi filed the petitions against the rejection of their nomination papers for NA-64, NA-69, PP-32 and PP-34 of Gujrat.

The full bench would take up the petitions on Friday (today).

The ROs had rejected the nomination papers of the petitioners and an appellate tribunal also upheld the decision.

PTI former leader Fawad Chaudhry also filed a petition against rejection of his nomination papers for NA-60 and NA-61 of Jhelum.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2024