LHC seeks reply on Dar’s plea challenging rejection of Senate nomination

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued a notice to the returning officer on a petition filed by former finance minister Ishaq Dar challenging the rejection of his nomination papers for Senate polls.

An appellate bench of the high court directed the respondent to submit comments on the petition by Saturday.

In his petition, Dar’s counsel submitted that the returning officer had rejected his client’s nomination papers for the Senate polls despite the fact that he had fulfilled all legal requirements. He argued that his nomination was rejected without giving Dar a fair hearing.

Dar’s counsel contended that the returning officer rejected the nomination papers merely on the basis of allegations. The bench was requested to set aside the returning officer’s verdict.

On Thursday, Dar moved the LHC against the rejection of his nomination papers by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for Senate elections.

According to details, the appeal was filed in LHC’s appellate tribunal.

The petition says that returning officer rejected the nomination papers contrary to the facts. Dar has adopted a stance that all the legal requirements for the papers were fulfilled.

The appeal has demanded the court to annul the action of returning officer.

On Monday, Ishaq Dar’s nomination papers for the Senate elections were rejected by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He had applied for a technocrat seat from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The returning officer rejected his nomination papers during scrutiny as the counsel for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate objected that Dar had not submitted an authentic declaration of his assets.

The returning officer ruled that Dar, thus, is not ‘honest’ and ‘truthful’ as per the Constitution.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had nominated Ishaq Dar as its Senate candidate for another three-year term as nine of the PML-N Senators are due to retire next month after completing their terms.

Dar was to contest in the Senate polls over two seats, a general seat and technocrat seat.

At least 52 Senators will retire next month ahead of the Senate elections on March 3. PML-N is likely to gain an overwhelming majority in the upper house of parliament.