LAHORE: The victory of 41 returned candidates in the Feb 8 general election, including Federal Minister for Defence Khwaja Asif, Federal Minister for Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan and MNA Hamza Shehbaz, has been challenged by the runner-up candidates through election petitions.

PTI-backed defeated candidate Rehana Imtiaz Dar filed the petition against the election of Khwaja Asif from NA-71, Sialkot. Similarly, PTI-supported independent defeated candidate Ali Ijaz challenged the success notification of Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party’s President Aleem Khan from NA-117, Lahore.

Incarcerated PTI leader Aliya Hamza assailed the victory notification of son of Hamza Shehbaz, from NA-118, Lahore.

An election tribunal comprising Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmed will hear the appeals next week.

ZULFI BOKHARI: A Lahore High Court division bench on Saturday disposed of an appeal by PTI leader Zulfi Bokhari against rejection of his nomination papers for the Senate election.

A lawyer for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) appeared before the bench and stated that Zulfi Bokhari filed his first appeal on March 21 and the decision was made by an appellate tribunal the same day. He said the deadline to file an appeal against the tribunal’s decision was until April 25.

He pointed out that unopposed success notifications of seven candidates were already issued after which Mr Bokhari filed the appeal on March 29.

The bench instructed Mr Bokhari’s lawyer that after the notifications of seven candidates, amendments should be made in the appeal.

At this, the appellant’s counsel withdrew the appeal to file again after necessary amendments.

The bench disposed of the appeal as withdrawn.

Bokhari pleaded that the ECP rejected his nomination papers for being a dual national. He said all documentary evidence was submitted to the ECP about relinquishing his dual nationality of the United Kingdom.

He stated that an election tribunal also upheld the ECP decision.

His counsel asked the bench to set aside decisions of the ECP and the tribunal for being against the facts and law.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2024