LAHORE, Dec 11: A Lahore High Court election tribunal on Tuesday declared Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam (PML-Q) candidates Mian Munir and Ch Akhtar Rasool ineligible for contesting the Jan 8 elections because of their involvement in rowdyism in the Supreme Court building in 1997.

Mian Munir had filed his nomination papers for NA-122, Lahore, while Ch Akhtar Rasool for PP-149, Lahore. After scrutiny, the returning officer rejected their nominations papers on the basis of their conviction in 2000 for committing contempt of court by attacking the apex court’s building.

The tribunal accepted an appeal by Babar Iqbal Bhatti and allowed him to participate in the elections for NA-129, Lahore. The RO had refused to accept his nomination papers after he could not produce his proposer and seconder in the court.

The tribunal accepted Dr Shaukat Ali’s appeal against his opponents, Ch Azhar Hussain and Ch Mubashar Hassan, candidates for NA-107, Gujrat.

The appellant pleaded that Ch Tajammal, the father of both candidates, had defaulted on an NICFC loan and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) tried him. He said Tajammal had an out-of-court settlement with NAB but never paid the amount. Both Azhar and Mubashar were guarantors of the financial facility availed by their father and as such they could not contest the elections.

The tribunal also rejected an appeal by PML-Q candidate Haji Hanif for PP-142, Lahore, whose papers were rejected by the RO on the ground that his seminary certificate was not equivalent to graduation degree.

The tribunal adjourned the hearing of an appeal by PML-N candidate Zahid Anwar Wahla challenging the acceptance of nomination papers of Saeed Ahmad Manais for NA-169, Vehari. The appellant alleged that Manais was not a graduate.

He said Manais produced BBA degree of Al-Khair University for its session 2000-2002, whereas this university had started its business administration classes in 2005.

The tribunal adjourned till Dec 13 an appeal by Sardar Hur Bukhari, a PPP candidate for NA-126, Lahore against rejection of his nomination papers on the ground that he was not a graduate.

The tribunal accepted Azeem Hanif’s appeal and allowed him to contest the elections for PP-142, Lahore. His nomination papers were rejected on the ground that his seminary degree was not equivalent to graduation.

The tribunal adjourned PML-N candidate Dr Asad Ashraf’s appeal against PML-Q candidate Shahid Maqsood for PP-142 till Dec 13. Ashraf alleged that Shahid was naib-nazim of a local union council and could not participate in the elections.

The tribunal dismissed Mian Saifullah Awaisi’s appeal against rejection of his papers, as he was not a graduate.

The tribunal also upheld the rejection of nomination papers of Sidra Batool, Tehzeeb Kausar and Zubaida Bibi because their seminary degrees were not found equivalent to graduation. However, the tribunal postponed for Dec 12 (today) the hearing of an appeal filed by Amina Jahangir. The RO had not accepted her seminary degree equivalent to graduation. These four women were candidates for seats reserved for women.

The tribunal rejected Rais Munir Ahmad’s appeal challenging the acceptance of nomination papers of Raees Mahboob for NA-197, Rahim Yar Khan. The appellant alleged that his rival was not a graduate.

The tribunal adjourned till Dec 13 Mian Najeeb-ud-Din Awaisi’s appeal against rejection of his nomination papers for NA-184 on the ground that he was not a graduate.