An election tribunal of the Lahore High Court on Thursday refused to hear election appeals against acceptance of nomination papers of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif and PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The tribunal – comprising Justice Khawaja Imtiaz Ahmad and Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan – referred the appeals to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with a request to fix them before another tribunal.
Justice Ahmad refused to hear the appeals against acceptance of nomination papers of Nawaz and Shahbaz from NA-120 and PP-161 respectively, observing that he had given a verdict in favour of the Sharif family on petitions seeking quashment of references against them. “Therefore, it is not appropriate for me to hear the appeals,” he added.
Justice Khan refused to hear the appeal against acceptance of Imran’s nomination papers from NA-122.
The tribunal referred all appeals to the ECP, requesting it to fix them before another tribunal.
Tariq Ahmad, Afshaan Ameeruddin, and Sohail Malik had challenged the acceptance of Nawaz’ papers from NA-120 and pleaded the tribunal to dismiss his nomination papers.
Rana Muhammad Sajjad challenged acceptance of Shahbaz’ papers from PP-161 and pleaded the tribunal to dismiss his nomination papers.
Junaid Murtaza and others had challenged acceptance of Imran’s papers from NA-122 and sought dismissal.
