LHC Reserves Verdict on Qureshi’s Nomination Papers

APP

Lahore: A Lahore High Court (LHC) three-member bench on Friday reserved its verdict on a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi against the rejection of his nomination papers from three constituencies.

The bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi heard the petition filed by the PTI leader and reserved the verdict after hearing detailed arguments from the parties in the course of the arguments, Qureshi’s counsel submitted that all legal requirements were fulfilled before submitting the nomination papers.

He submitted that it was not mandatory for a candidate to appear in person before the returning officer to file his nomination papers.

He submitted that fundamental constitutional rights take precedence over legal rights. He submitted that contesting an election was a constitutional right that could not be abrogated under legal requirements, adding that the Sindh High Court had given a detailed decision on this point. He pleaded with the bench to set aside the decisions of the returning officers and tribunal and allow his client to contest the election.

However, the counsel for the Election Commission argued that it was mandatory to put a thumb impression on nomination papers, but the petitioner did not fulfill the requirement, adding that the legal requirement of verifying the affidavit was also not met.

He further submitted that the proposer and endorser could not be changed as per law, adding that the nomination papers could not be modified after their submission to the returning officer.

It is pertinent to mention that Shah Mehmood Qureshi had challenged the rejection of his nomination papers for National Assembly constituencies NA-150 and NA-151 and Provincial Assembly constituency PP-218.

He submitted that the returning officers and appellate tribunal did not properly assess the facts. He pleaded with the bench to set aside the decisions of the returning officers and the tribunal and accept his nomination papers from the constituencies.