ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday allowed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Anjum Aqeel and independent candidate Mir Badshah Qaiserani to contest elections from NA-54 and NA-189, respectively.
Petitioner Malik Amjad Mahmood approached the court, submitting that Anjum Aqeel is a defaulter of various institutions and faces a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, who headed the bench, questioned why the petitioner had not raised such objections at the time of scrutiny of the papers. He replied the returning officer concerned was familiar with these facts, but didn’t take them into account. The judges asked him to approach the court after the July 25 elections to have his grievance addressed.
Aqeel is contesting election against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar.
In Qaiserani’s case, the court said that in case Qaisrani wins the election, the notification declaring him the winner will be subject to the court’s decision.
Justice Saeed said the court will examine the case in detail after the elections. “We cannot rush in deciding legal points,” he added.
The court remarked that it will now be difficult to halt the election in the area.
In June 2013, Qaiserani was jailed for two years and fined Rs5,000 for holding a fake degree.
Qaiserani is running as an independent candidate from Dera Ghazi Khan after returning the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket.
