LAHORE: An appellate tribunal of the Lahore High Court on Monday issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on appeals by incarcerated PTI President Parvez Elahi and his absconding son Moonis Elahi against rejection of their nomination papers for by-polls in Punjab.

The returning officers rejected the papers of Mr Elahi from PP-32, Gujrat, for not disclosing details of his assets and Moonis from PP-158, Lahore, for being an absconder in multiple cases of alleged corruption.

A lawyer argued on behalf of the appellants that the decisions of the ROs were not based on facts.

He said Mr Elahi submitted the same documents along with the nomination papers for the Feb 8 general election and his candidature was duly accepted by the RO concerned.

The counsel argued that the Supreme Court had allowed politicians to contest the last month general elections in the country who were declared absconders by different courts in politically motivated cases.

He said the apex court declared that contesting elections was a fundamental right of every citizen.

He asked the tribunal to set aside the impugned decisions of the ROs and accepted the nomination papers of the appellants.

Tribunal Justice Shahid Karim issued notices to the ECP for submission of the replies to the appeals.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2024