ATTOCK, April 7: The returning officer (RO) rejected objections levelled against three candidates, clearing them to contest  elections.

The RO on Sunday accepted nomination papers of former district nazim Tahir Sadiq Khan for NA- 57, after rejecting the objections against him. A local citizen, Malik Shafi, had claimed that Mr Tahir had concealed details of his stone crush firm and flour mills. In response, Mr Khan’s counsel submitted documents to disprove the allegation.

After a detailed hearing, the RO rejected objections against Mr Tahir and allowed him to contest NA-57 seat.

The RO also rejected objections against PML-N’s Sheikh Aftab Ahmed for NA- 57.

PTI’s candidate Taimoor Aslam had alleged that Mr Aftab had illegally occupied government land, and was a loan defaulter. Furthermore, he had alleged Mr Aftab had a fake BA degree.

Mr Aftab’s counsel claimed that the land had been offered by the revenue department for sale, and was actually a waste land. The loan, he maintained, had been a running finance, which had been legally availed from a private bank. He had assured the RO that he had sufficient record to prove that his BA degree was genuine. The RO, after hearing both sides, rejected the objections and accepted Mr Aftab’s nominations.

The nomination papers of PTI’s Syed Yawar Bukhari were also accepted for PP-15 after objections against him were rejected.

PPP’s Malik Shahan Khan had alleged that Mr Bukhari had not submitted his income tax returns. The RO turned down the objections, and accepted his nomination forms.—Correspondent