LAHORE: An appellate tribunal comprising a Lahore High Court judge on Monday issued notices on two separate appeals, respectively, challenging the acceptance and rejection of former prime minister Imran Khan’s nomination papers for by-election in NA-118, Nankana Sahib, and NA-108, Faisalabad.

Dr Shezra Mansab Kharal, a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz from NA-118, filed the appeal against the decision of the returning officer (RO) accepting khan’s nomination papers for the by-poll.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman also filed an appeal against the RO’s decision in NA-108 that rejected his candidature.

Justice Shahid Waheed, the tribunal, heard both appeals and issued notices to the ROs concerned and other respondents for submission of their replies by Aug 24.

In her appeal, Dr Kharal alleged Khan did not disclose,

in his nomination papers, the gifts he had received from Toshakhana. She said Mr Khan also failed to disclose the details of the assets owned by him and his wife.

Also, the appellant said, the nomination papers filed by the PTI chairman were not attested by an oath commissioner, as required by the law. She said all the shortcomings had been formally raised before the RO, but he chose to ignore the objections and accepted Khan’s nomination papers.

She requested the tribunal to set aside the RO’s decision and reject the nomination papers of Mr Khan for NA-118 by-election.

In his appeal, Khan said the RO rejected his papers against the law and ignoring the facts. He said his nomination papers for by-election in other constituencies had been accepted.

He asked the tribunal to set aside the RO’s decision and allow him to contest the by-election in NA-108. Barrister Syed Ali Zafar represented Khan before the tribunal.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2022