ISLAMABAD: Rejecting all objections against Imran Khan's candidacy from NA-53, an election appellate tribunal allowed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief to contest polls from the Islamabad constituency on Wednesday.
Returning Officer (RO), Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Adnan Khan, had rejected Imran's nomination papers last week, along with those of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidates Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi and PTI's disgruntled leader Ayesha Gulalai for failing to fill clause-N of the affidavit in which they were required to mention the “contribution” to their respective constituencies during their previous tenure as lawmakers.
The PTI chairman had filed an appeal on June 20 against the rejection of his candidacy. In the appeal, Imran requested the tribunal to overrule the RO's decision to reject his nomination papers.
Earlier today, Imran had appeared before the Islamabad election tribunal to fill clause-N of the affidavit submitted with his nomination papers for the constituency. In clause-N, the PTI chief stated that he set up the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, established Namal College, and made the nation aware to struggle for its constitutional rights.
The PTI chief has again been summoned in Peshawar today after he failed to appear before the election tribunal yesterday for the hearing of an appeal against the approval of his nomination papers from NA-35, Bannu.
Tribunal rejects Fawad's nomination papers
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry’s nomination papers were rejected today from his home constituency of NA-67, Jhelum.
The election tribunal was hearing an appeal against the acceptance of Chaudhry’s nomination papers by the returning officer, filed by Justice and Democratic Party’s Fakhar Abbas Kazmi, who had objected, saying the PTI leader did not pay agriculture tax on his land.
He had also stated that the PTI leader’s name on his identity card was listed as ‘Fawad Ahmad’.
Election tribunals set up across the country are set to conclude today the appeals against the verdicts of returning officers (RO) regarding candidates intending to contest the July 25 general election.
ECP reminds staff to observe office timings
In a circular issued on Wednesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reiterated for its staff the cancellation of all holidays, including the weekends, until the July 25 polls.
Directing supervisors to ensure the presence of their staff, the ECP expressed displeasure at the lax attitude of officials regarding work timings and observed that staff do not come in on weekends and also come to office late and leave early.
EU observers to reach Pakistan today
A team of the European Union's (EU) Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) will reach Islamabad today to monitor the election process.
The mission's head, EU MP Michael Galhar, has said that the representation of voters in many constituencies has improved due to the recently conducted census.
"There may be differences on many things but the ECP has largely managed to bring the situation at hand under control," Galhar said.
On June 19, the ECP constituted 20 tribunals to hear appeals against rejection of nomination papers by candidates for the election, after the scrutiny of nomination papers was completed.
High court judges were part of the six tribunals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight in Punjab, four in Sindh, and two in Balochistan.
As per the election schedule, the revised list of candidates will be published on June 28 whereas the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be June 29.
On June 30, allocation of electoral symbols will be completed and the final list of contesting candidates will be published.
APP/AFP