PESHAWAR, Sept 6: The Bank of Khyber filed an appeal before the election tribunal here on Friday against acceptance of nomination papers of Syed Iftikhar Gillani, senior vice president, Pakistan Muslim League (QA).
The bank has prayed to the tribunal to disqualify Iftikhar Gillani from contesting polls from NA-14 (Kohat) as his dependents obtained loan from the bank and had not returned it.
It was stated that the loan was obtained in the name of Amir and Company, in which Nusrat Iftikhar, wife of Mr Gillani, his son Amir Gillani and daughter Rabiya Gillani were the directors.
The appeal, filed by Khaziq Ali Shah advocate, states that an amount of Rs6.8 million had still been outstanding against them. The appellant has claimed that on August 21, 1999, the respondents company availed financial facility of Rs3 million on interest, which was repayable in 14 semi-annual instalments.
The appellant stated that the company had been defaulting since Dec 31, 2000. Moreover, respondent No.3 (Amir Gillani) availed another facility of Rs3.5 million on mark-up basis, but had been defaulting and not returning the loan.
Meanwhile, the Habib bank Limited, Karachi, and a candidate for NA-36 (Mohmand Agency), Hazrat Khan Mohmand, have filed appeals against acceptance of nomination papers of Azmat Mohmand, son of former MNA Haji Behroz.
The bank’s appeal, filed by Alamzaib Khan advocate, states that the returning officer had accepted the nomination papers of Azmat Mohmand, which was violation of the Representation of Peoples Act.
The appellant stated that the respondent had availed a loan facility of more than Rs30 million in the name of Awan and Co in which he was a managing partner.
Presently, the bank claimed an amount of Rs7.08 million was outstanding against the company and thus Azmat did not qualify to contest elections.
APPEALS FILED: With the last date of submission of appeals against the decisions of returning officers ended on Friday, about 78 appeals have been filed by different candidates for national and provincial assemblies.
On last day, 46 appeals were filed — 25 for National Assembly and 21 for the provincial assembly. The election tribunal comprising Justice Abdur Rauf Lughmani and Justice Ijaz Afzal will dispose of these appeals by Sept 13.
A former MNA of ANP, Haji Naseemur Rehman, who has been absconding, has filed appeal against rejection of his nomination papers for NA-11, Mardan.
Similarly, an appeal was filed against acceptance of nomination papers of Maj-Gen Zaheerul Islam Abbasi for NA-17, Abbottabad.
The appellant, Bashir Hussain, stated that Mr Abbasi was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and was dismissed from service thus he stood disqualified from contesting polls.