LAHORE: The Returning Officer (RO) has returned the nomination papers of PTI leader Hammad Azhar for upcoming by-poll in NA-129, Lahore, citing ‘minor clerical errors’.

According to the RO office, every candidate was required to complete 13 specific points in the nomination paper. One of these points was found missing in the nomination papers of the PTI leader, sources in the RO office said.

Hammad Azhar’s relative had filed his nomination papers as he was declared a proclaimed offender (PO) and he had since remained in hiding. He was declared a PO by different anti-terrorism courts for not joining the proceedings against him in cases related to the May 9 riots.

The NA-129 fell vacant due to the death of Mian Azhar, the father of Hammad.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2025