[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Reportedly, the nomination papers of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the NA-15 constituency in Mansehra were approved by the respective returning officer on Thursday.
Meanwhile, decisions on objections to the nomination papers of PPP Chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore have been reserved.
In the NA-15 constituency, objections against Nawaz Sharif were raised by PTI leader Azam Swati through his representative Shahid Rafiq, a local party leader. Despite the objections, the returning officer initially cleared Sharif’s papers after rejecting the raised concerns.
The PTI leader argued that Sharif had been disqualified for life by the Supreme Court, contending that the RO lacked the authority to approve the nomination papers. However, Sharif’s papers were ultimately approved.
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In Lahore’s NA-122 constituency, objections were raised against the nomination papers of ex-PM Imran Khan based on his punishment in the Toshakhana case.
The objector argued that the court had suspended the sentence but not the conviction, and the approver was not a voter in the NA-122 constituency. Khan’s counsel disputed this, stating that the approver was registered in the same constituency but removed from the rolls due to new delimitation on Dec 15.
The lawyer emphasized that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) could not impose punishment, asserting that Article 62 and Article 63 did not apply to the former PTI chairman.
In NA-127, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s nomination papers were contested by an objector who was claimed to be a non-registered voter in the constituency.
The returning officer reserved the decision after hearing arguments, with PPP leaders expressing confidence that objections would be set aside as the person contesting the papers was not authorized under election rules.
Additionally, reports from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) regarding various candidates for NA-102 (Faisalabad-VIII) and other constituencies have been received by the respective returning officers.
Clearance reports for some candidates, including Farrukh Habib, are still pending, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has been reluctant to disclose clearance-related information. A spokesperson for ECP (Punjab) was not available for comments.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
