PPP continues to suffer blows over candidacy

E-Paper | May 27, 2026

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KARACHI: The former ruling party at the centre continues to suffer blows as two of its major candidates from Lahore and Sindh were declared ineligible by election tribunals on Tuesday. Today’s setback followed Monday’s rejection of an appeal by former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf challenging the decision of a returning officer rejecting him nomination.

On Tuesday, PPP’s Syed Asif Hashmi was disqualified by the election tribunal in Lahore with objections against him for not being 'sadiq'and 'ameen' upheld. Moreover, another PPP stalwart in Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah who had filed his papers to stand from PS-20 (Naushero Feroz-II) was also disqualified by an election tribunal.

All rejected PPP candidates have announced to file appeals against the rejections in the respective high courts.

Moreover, an election tribunal was expected to decide the fate of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan today.

PML-N on the other hand saw most of its candidates getting a green signal by election authorities. Both Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif were cleared by election tribunals and objections against the brothers were dismissed.

Today’s setback for PPP followed Monday’s decision of an election tribunal in Rawalpindi reinforcing the rejection of Raja Pervez Ashraf’s nomination papers by Returning Officer (RO) Khalid Arshad.

The former prime minister was to run for NA-51 in Gujjar Khan, from where he had won in two previous elections.

Ashraf’s lawyer and former law minister Farooq Naek has said his client would file an appeal against the tribunal’s decision.

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Mohammad Farooq

Apr 16, 2013 06:04am

Good riddance.

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Mudassir Hussain

Apr 16, 2013 06:34am

EC seems tactfully selective in disqualifying candidates. There are also other issues with respect to security and delimitation which has made them controversial.

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akhter husain

Apr 16, 2013 06:45am

Had any court of law convicted Mr Musharraf for subverting the the constitution as yet,is a question to be reviewed.Another candidate was rejected on grounds that he was not Sadiq and Amin..So far so good.The Sharif brothers lied about their agreement with the then president that they will go to a brotherly country and will not return to Pakistan for ten years and the intelligence chief of that country had to come and show the agreement.The sharif Brothers may have been taken for granted as sadiq and amin they being sharif..

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Husain Jan

Apr 16, 2013 06:56am

Yes good one. Since after rejection of papers by the concerned RO the election tribunal also upheld the RO's dicision there should be no more chance of further appeals in high courts.This facility speaks a lot about the escape routes offered to influentials by our system. After decisions of the tribunal the disqualified candidates should not dare to show his face to public in shame.

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Sultan Fatima

Apr 16, 2013 06:59am

It is mind boggling to find the candidature of jamshed dasti being approved , when he was disqualified by the highest court of Pakistan the supreme court. Similarly Nawaz Sharif is also a controversial candidate , with his name mentioned in Supreme court attack case.

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ishrat salim

Apr 16, 2013 07:19am

Such action seem to be one-sided as no candidates from PML N has been rejected till now by the RO....which is creating a sense that it is not fair...how come all those PML N are within clause 62 & 63....means it is decided to give PML N a clean floor to contest ?

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rabbani

Apr 16, 2013 07:31am

Why the hell Shareefs are getting so much favour by the independent courts of Pakistan. As per Asghar Khan case verdict, there papers should have been rejected by the tribunal. If they are not convict as per this, then Musharraf is also not convicted by any courts! His papaers should also be accepted.

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Atif

Apr 16, 2013 07:32am

Good for the country.

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Immad

Apr 16, 2013 07:36am

Sahrif brothers are as bad as Raja Ashraf or other disqualified. I am shocked by the bias of election tribunals which gave them green chits.

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observer

Apr 16, 2013 07:41am

Now I can better understand why long march of Tahir ul Qadri was staged and concluded without achieving anything. It was to prepare people for implementation of clauses 62 and 63. What it achieved was to keep some people out of elections. Foul.

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observer

Apr 16, 2013 07:42am

If Dasti had not left PPP, he would still be rotting in jail. Foul.

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observer

Apr 16, 2013 07:45am

We are sixth or seventh largest country in the world in terms of population and the best person we could find from 120 million of us was Fakhar ud Din Jee Ibraheem. Shame on us as a nation. I lament the lack of good people.

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Ghulam Ishaq

Apr 16, 2013 07:56am

The problem with Pakistan is that everyone is confused whether they want a truly religious state where everyone is judged by every other for being/not being Sadiq and Ameen OR they want a truly democratic and secular state where the state doesn't judge people by their personal beliefs

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Naveed

Apr 16, 2013 08:09am

You are completely mad who don't understand facts or don't even have basic understanding about anything. Go admit yourself in a psychiatric unit for a few years. Even then I don't believe you will be cured.

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Bilal

Apr 16, 2013 08:20am

PMLNocracy prevails in the Judiciary. No place for neutrality and justice.

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Anwar Qureshi

Apr 16, 2013 08:30am

Sadiq & Ameen = Honesty and righteous person. Raja Rental has been rightly convicted for his dishonestry; issuing more than 200 CNG licenses (imagine how much money he would have made); also imagine how much he would have made in Rental Power Houses!!! We live in Islamic Republic of Pakistan; a democratic country having Islam as its religion. One fails to understand how come judiciary is allowing the fake degree holders to contest elections. Its better to clean up the mess.

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Sadia

Apr 16, 2013 08:31am

there is no need to be abusive. you may disagree but you should stay within the limits of civilized discourse.

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Mir Dost Brohi

Apr 16, 2013 08:45am

Any Crystal clear criteria to identify True "Sadiq and Ameen"?. It seems these ill trained ROs have spoiled the true spirit of Election in the country by showing their over-smart tactics by accepting and rejecting candidates nominations.

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akram

Apr 16, 2013 08:59am

only Imran Khan is clean and trustworthy person among all politicians in Pakistan

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Gopal Patel

Apr 16, 2013 09:41am

Looks like Election is behaving as if it is a law unto itself.General Musharraf's cases' are in courts and he has not been convicted on any account so far.Still the ECP is rejecting his nomination papers which is shows its bias.

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M. S. Alvi

Apr 16, 2013 09:57am

Naves, you also need to go to the same hospital.

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M. S. Alvi

Apr 16, 2013 10:05am

It seems that the RO's and the tribunals are being partial. After all they are Pakistan's.

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rabbani

Apr 16, 2013 10:09am

People Like you are better to be ignored.

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rabbani

Apr 16, 2013 10:12am

Rotten eggs like these are responsible for the current situation of our country. Ignorance is their cure.

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FJ Siddiqui

Apr 16, 2013 12:56pm

I expect at least 1 proven misconduct by IK from those 9 guys who gave a thumb down to Mr. Akram's comments :)

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hasan

Apr 16, 2013 04:39pm

Musharaf is a repealer which is why he is being rejected. In all honesty, its good for the country.

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hasan

Apr 16, 2013 04:42pm

Please don't forget to vote for IK. ye wala ladoo bhi kha k dekh lo, baki saray to try kar chukay...shayad ae mitha nikal aye :)

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kam

Apr 16, 2013 05:33pm

Clear enough to me, loan defaulters, utility defaulters, tax evaders, fake degree holders, unattributable sources of income, is clear enough grounds for disqualification. Or do you want Allah himself to provide the evidence???

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kam

Apr 16, 2013 05:36pm

Not foul at all. Rather a right small step. All politicians should be banned UNLESS they can prove they are honest. Only IK can prove his honesty. ALL others are theives. Period.

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Shahid Abbas

Apr 16, 2013 06:08pm

Can anyone say Nawaz or Shehbaz are real sadiq and amin? My answer is no. Just think of the their U turns on deal with Musharraf. One da y they said no deal, then in a press conference, Nawaz himself said, deal was for five years and later on it was revealed that deal was for ten years. Forget about their loans and how they managed their default. Amazing, the two brothers are cleared as "Sadiq and Amin". Shame, Shame, Shame.

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Mustafa

Apr 16, 2013 06:10pm

FYI, SC has already declared Musharraf's emergency in 2007 as unconstitutional.

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Apr 16, 2013 07:18pm

Your point is valid but i believe that Sharifs should also be kicked out as Musharraf.

Recommend 0

Apr 16, 2013 07:22pm

I think you probably need Anger Management and if there is anything available for managing your arrogance as well. Stop treating these politicians as if they are your Gods!!

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Dr Qureshi

Apr 16, 2013 08:33pm

To reject Pervez Musharraf's nominations is an astonishing decision. He's simply been thrown out on rumours and suspicions. All his actions were sanctioned by the supreme court at the time, He has not been convicted of anything. Frankly, I can't see these elections going ahead, its turning into a circus.

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wachucha

Apr 17, 2013 01:33am

Does this mean that both Sharifs and PPP leadership is now certified Sadiq and Ameen? What a tragedy!

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wachucha

Apr 17, 2013 01:46am

This election is going towards pre poll rigging. In a country where most institutions are corrupt how do you expect ECP officials (especially ROs) not to be bought. PMLN has ensured that they don't leave any stone unturned to win this election with big majority despite the BIG majority of the country doesn't want them back in the Centre.

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Deb

Apr 17, 2013 05:52am

Let the people decide whether a candidate is saadiq and amin through their own free will via the ballot box. It is a joke that these returning officers feel that they can decide for the common people.

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