RAWALPINDI: Appellate tribunal of the election commission on Monday reserved its verdict over former Prime minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s appeal against rejection of NA-57 Murree constituency.
Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Abdul Rehman Lodhi conducted the proceedings.
Lodhi, during the hearing questioned the petitioner if there was any proof against Abbasi.
He questioned “the premise that Abbasi’s thumb impression is above or below the identity card is not a valid argument, how were the nomination papers tampered?”
Former premier’s counsel argued that his client had declared all assets in the nomination papers submitted to the election commission of Pakistan.
The tribunal reserved its verdict.
Former premier, while addressing the media outside the tribunal asserted that the returning officer could not challenge the candidates affidavit.
He added that the nation decides the fate of elections, not courts.
The former premier will be contesting as Pakistan Muslim league-N (PML-N) ticket holder from NA-57 Murree constituency.
Abbasi’s nomination papers were challenged in the Rawalpindi tribunal over a petition accusing Abbasi for extorting money from the national exchequer.
The petitioner in his petition claimed that the former premier during his tenure had obtained Rs 1 billion so that his son could perform Umrah.
Thus, the petitioner had sought that Abbasi shouldn’t be allowed to contest elections, as he had damaged Pakistan’s national security on purpose by supporting/defending Nawaz Sharif’s controversial Mumbai Attack’s interview.
Furthermore, the petitioner had alleged Abbasi of misappropriation of assets.
Earlier, the tribunal had suspended the returning officer (RO) for not reviewing Abbasi’s nomination papers thoroughly.
According to Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) schedule the tribunals have until June 27 to decide on the appeals after which a revised list of the candidates will be made public on June 28.
The general elections are set to be held on July 25.
Similarly, appellate tribunal adjourned disgruntled PTI leader Ayesha Gulalai’s rejection appeal hearing at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the rejection appeal against Gulalai’s NA-53 Islamabad constituency.
The proceedings are adjourned until tomorrow after issuning notices to ECP and the RO.