An election tribunal, headed by Justice Khawaja Imtiaz Ahmed of the Lahore High Court here on Friday, dismissed an appeal against acceptance of nomination papers of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from NA-120 for being not maintainable. Another tribunal headed by Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh also dismissed appeals against acceptance of nomination papers of Nawaz Sharif (NA-120), Imran Khan (122), Riaz Malik (NA-118), and Hamza Shahbaz (NA-119).
The tribunal headed by Khawaja Imtiaz referred two more appeals against candidature of Nawaz Sharif from NA-120 and NA-119 and PTI Chairman Imran Khan from NA-122 for fixation before other tribunal. The tribunal also sought assistance of Attorney General and Advocate General Punjab in an appeal of former president General Pervez Musharraf (retired) against rejection of his nomination papers on April 16.
Representing Musharraf, Barrister Salman Safdar argued that allegations levelled against Musharraf had not been proved so far. He said a petition was pending adjudication before the Supreme Court seeking proceedings under Article 6 of the Constitution against Musharraf whereas no order had been passed to this effect. The counsel argued that the appellant could not be barred from contesting polls unless any court order was not passed against him.
The tribunal remarked that apparently the former president (Musharraf) could not be stopped from contesting elections on the basis of mere allegations. The tribunal also adjourned proceedings on the appeal of former MNA of PML (like Minded) Kashmala Tariq. She challenged rejection of her nomination papers from reserved seat by ECP. Meanwhile, the second election tribunal headed by Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh issued notice on an appeal against the candidature of former PML-N MNA Pervez Malik from NA-123. It also dismissed an appeal filed by Bank of Punjab against Malik Ashiq of PTI. The bank challenged the acceptance of nomination papers of Ashiq alleging him a loan defaulter.