Former PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf out of election race

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In a blow to the former ruling Pakistan People’s Party, an election tribunal on Monday rejected former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s nomination papers for NA-51 constituency in Gojar Khan. The PPP secretary general has won two previous elections from this constituency.

Ashraf had filed an appeal with the tribunal against the rejection of his nominations by the returning officer (RO).

The tribunal, comprising Justice Rauf Ahmad Sheikh and Justice Mamoon Rashid of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench, heard the arguments from both the sides and reserved its judgement earlier in the day.

Returning Officer Khalid Arshad had rejected Ashraf’s papers after Raja Irfan Aziz, a relative of the candidate’s political rival Raja Javaid Ikhlas, complained that the former prime minister had misused discretionary funds in his constituency.

Senator Farooq Naek appeared before the two-member tribunal as counsel for the petitioner, seeking an order to overturn the verdict of the RO.

Naek contended that the nomination papers of his client were wrongly rejected as he never misused discretionary powers to allocate development funds for his constituency. He said Ashraf has the legal and constitutional right to contest the general elections, adding that an appeal would be filed in the Supreme Court against the tribunal’s decision.

23 COMMENTS

  1. a very biased decision against ppp,you cannot disqualify someone on mere allegations,person has to be convicted first

  2. very wrong decision indeed raja has done a great deal of development works in gujar khan in particular and he does not have a conviction against him,therefore it is clearly a wron decision

    • Naeem and other Pakistani's: Think big, dont keep your association with this RAJA (kerra tey kithay da raja). Once you are involved in corruption, and use your resources to keep it quite, I guarantee that there is more that is not visible yet. Sure he must have done something for Gojar Khan (thats because he has to win the election again). I would say go to Gojar Khan, stand on a street corner and see if there are jobs, education, subsidized food, poverty, electric load shedding and lack of gas, petrol and CNG. If its still there, its no use. Then compare it with this RAJA's wealth. you will have your answer

      • streets of gujar khan are a bit better than most of the rest of pakistan,raja and his family are very well respected in the area, there is big big differnce in allegations and a conviction every one is innocent till proven guilty,there is no decision from any court against raja sahib,there fore this decision is very unfair

  3. a very bad news indeed,hard to understand on what legal basis he is disqualified,as he is never been convicted or sentenced

  4. this should be over turned quickly and raja should be allowed to take part in elections,people of gujar khan condemn this decision

  5. a very unfair decision indeed,what happens in he is found not guilty in rental power case or any other case,will these judges be punished then

  6. how can a R O determine if the primeminister has used the funds fairly or unfairly,this should be proven through court first.this is a grave misuse of justice.raja should be allowed to contest elections

  7. good, but patchy justice raise eyebrows too! while he is rightly disqualified, many similar to him sail through without any hindrance!

  8. Well done ECP, can we have others qualified too, the list is long, more courage is required but we really want the system to change, we have to change the people behind it and give opportunity to honest leaders.

  9. Well done ECP, can we have others disqualified too, the list is long, more courage is required but we really want the system to change, we have to change the people behind it and give opportunity to honest leaders.

  10. I hope this decision is maintained for the future of the country….to save it from the crooks like the PM?????????

  11. no, it was a gud decision, if ECP does not get him qualified in the next step as happening everyday…..topi drama

  12. THank GOd…atleast one good decision!!!…he is a criminal..he should be barred from election!!

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