HAFIZABAD, Nov 30: Nomination papers of former MNA Chaudhry Mehdi Hasan Bhatti, a PML-Q candidate for NA-102, were rejected by the returning officer during scrutiny here on Friday.

Advocate Tanvir Ahmad Chaddhar, who is also general-secretary of PML-Nawaz and a candidate for PP-105, challenged the authenticity of graduation degrees of his rival candidate Rai Riasat Ali Kharl as well as of Mehdi Bhatti. The returning officer, Additional Sessions Judge Salauhddin Butt, summoned records pertaining to their degrees from respective universities.

After perusing the records, the returning officer cleared the papers of Riasat Kharl but rejected Mehdi Bhatti's nomination papers. Now Mehdi Bhatti's son and covering candidate Shaukat Ali Bhatti will contest the elections.