ISLAMABAD: Former finance minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said that there was no provision under law or the Consitution that restricts an absconder from contesting elections. Ishaq Dar’s counsel Salman Aslam Butt submitted a reply on behalf of the ex-minister to the petition filed against him in the Supreme Court over his participation in Senate elections. In his 16-page reply, Dar said that “there is no provision under law that prohibits an absconder from contesting elections or enjoying constitutional rights.” It was added that the merit of eligibility for elections is decided by the Article 62 of the constitution and the article does not prohibit absconders from contesting elections. The former minister also requested the court to dismiss the petition filed against him. “The petitioner should have pointed out reservations before the elections and not after the results were declared. For this response, the petitioners’ applications were also dismissed by the LHC,” it was added. The apex court had issued a notice to Dar over a plea against the LHC’s verdict to allow his nomination papers for the Senate election.