Daily Times

LAHORE: The ruling PML-N’s candidate for NA-120 bye-election Kulsoom Nawaz left for London on Thursday hours before her nomination papers were approved by the returning officer while rejecting all objections raised on her candidature by the rival candidates from PTI, PPP, PAT and the Milli Muslim League (MML).

The returning officer also approved the nomination papers of all other contesters from the mainstream political parties including Dr Yasmin Rashid of the PTI, Faisal Mir of PPP, Sheikh Yaqoob of MML, Ishtiaque Chaudhry of PAT, Ziauddin Insari of Jamaat Islami, and a Christian candidate, Michael Faris, of the All Pakistan Ghurba Pary (APGP).

The nomination papers of Hafiz Nauman, who is covering candidate of Kulsoom Nawaz, have also been approved by the ECP. The final list of the eligible candidates will be displayed on August 26, as per schedule announced by the ECP.

It is pertinent to mention here that PTI, PPP, PAT and MML had submitted around 20 objections against Kulsoom Nawaz’s candidature. PML-N leader and close aide of Nawaz Sharif, Dr Asif Kirmani, flanked by some lawyers appeared before the ECP on behalf of Kulsoom Nawaz to respond to the objections and remained successful in convincing the RO. The political opponents of Kulsoom Nawaz are planning to knock the door of appellate tribunal of the Lahore High Court to challenge the approval of her nomination papers. Talking to media after approval of Kulsoom Nawaz’s nomination papers at the ECP office, Kirmani confirmed that she would return home within three to four days as she had gone to London for her medical treatment.

Published in Daily Times, August 18^th 2017.