PESHAWAR: Setting the orders of the returning officer aside, an appellate tribunal on Monday accepted the nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-backed candidates Murad Saeed, Khurram Zeeshan and Azam Swati, allowing them to contest the Senate polls on April 2.

It also rejected appeals against PPP’s Fida Mohammad Khan, Rubina Khalid, Qaizar Khan, JUI-F’s Dilawar Khan and Shazia, and PTI-backed Azhar Mashwani and confirmed the acceptance of their nomination papers.

During the hearing into those cases, Justice Shakil Ahmad of the tribunal was informed that Mr Saeed’s nomination papers were rejected as he was an absconder.

However, the PTI leader’s lawyer, Ali Azim Afridi, insisted someone’s election papers could not be rejected just because he was a fugitive from justice.

Rejects pleas against papers of PPP, JUI-F nominees

The judge asked him if his client was still absconding. Mr Afridi said his client’s life was in danger, and therefore, he was on the run.

The tribunal observed that the PTI leader should approach the court for relief.

Lawyer Afridi also informed the judge that another objection to Mr Saeed’s nomination papers was about the authenticity of his signatures, but that was unfounded because he got a video that showed his client sign his nomination papers for the Senate polls.

Counsel for the ECP Mohsin Kamran argued that Mr Saeed had declared in his nomination papers for the recent National Assembly polls that he was booked in nine cases, but he didn’t mention those cases in his papers for the upcoming Senate polls.

The tribunal was also informed that the PTI leader was found guilty of violating the code of conduct for polls but didn’t pay the penalty for it.

However, his lawyers insisted that Mr Saeed paid the penalty, and they had receipts to prove it.

Mr Kamran of the ECP pointed out that the appeals weren’t filed by the PTI leader and if there was any issue, he should come forward so that his nomination papers could be accepted.

Lawyer Afridi said the court should accept Saeed’s bail application, and he was ready to appear before it for the purpose.

PTI leader Zeeshan’s lawyer said his client’s election papers were rejected over his nomination in a criminal case and concealing his assets.

Mr Swati’s counsel Barrister Waqar told the tribunal that his client’s nomination papers were rejected for “not sharing details of cases against him in the Feb 8 election papers.”

He added that Mr Swati submitted the same along with his nomination papers for the upcoming Senate polls, but even then, he was declared ineligible to run for the Senate’s seats reserved for technocrats.

“Azam Swati was elected a member of the Senate as a technocrat twice—first in 2006 and later in 2018. Besides, he was also elected as the Senator on a general seat but stood ineligible for the Senate polls now,” he said.

The lawyer said his client got details of the cases registered against him after the Feb 8 general polls before submitting them for the Senate elections.

The tribunal rejected the ECP’s decision to reject the nomination papers of PTI leaders Saeed, Zeeshan and Swati allowing them all to contest the Senate polls.

PTI nominee Mashwani’s counsel said questions were raised about his client’s alleged properties in Swabi and Dera Ismail Khan districts, but the records of the revenue department revealed that those assets didn’t belong to him.

The tribunal turned down the appeal against his candidacy for the Senate polls.

It also rejected pleas against the nomination papers of PPP nominees Fida Mohammad Khan, Rubina Khalid and Qaisar Khan and JUI-F’s Dilawar Khan and Shazia.

Mr Swati told reporters that the ECP was doing everything except holding free and fair Senate elections.

He said the PTI had moved the Supreme Court to claim reserved seats in assemblies.

“We [the PTI] won’t take revenge, and instead, we will work for the country’s development,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2024