ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday dismissed a petition challenging former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s nomination papers from the NA-57 constituency on Friday.
The petition by Masood Ahmed Abbasi was moved to the top court on Thursday against the approval of the former premier’s nomination papers ahead of the polls on the basis of ‘misstated facts’ in his nomination papers.
“The Lahore High Court’s decision should be declared void and Abbasi should not be allowed to contest in the upcoming polls,” the petitioner requested.
A bench constituted by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar heard the petition. Moreover, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, who was part of the bench question if former PM Abbasi had concealed facts then ‘why was there no evidence suggesting the same’.
The petitioner’s lawyer told the bench that Abbasi had tampered with records. The CJP directed that the lawyer should inform the court what Abbasi had “misdeclared”.
“Properties listed in income tax returns are also listed in the nomination papers,” the chief justice remarked.
The top judge further questioned what relation the petitioner had to the case and whether he was an opposing candidate.
Following the arguments, the court dismissed the petition giving a green signal to former PM Abbasi to contest in the upcoming polls.
Earlier, Abbasi was allowed to contest from his home constituency of NA-57 by LHC.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi had accepted Abbasi’s appeal against the appellate tribunal’s decision of rejecting his nomination papers and disqualifying him for life.
The divisional bench of the LHC had dismissed the tribunal’s order against Abbasi.
