LAHORE: Candidates of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) on Tuesday filed objections with the returning officer, challenging nomination papers of Ms Kulsoom Nawaz, the PML-N nominee for NA-120.

Similar grounds have been taken in the objections filed under Representation of Peoples Act 1976 by Faisal Mir of the PPP and Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry of the PAT.

They said Ms Nawaz did not disclose the agreement for a United Arab Emirates (UAE) Iqama (work permit) attached with her nomination papers.

They said Ms Nawaz submitted her work permit as deputy chairman of the FZE Company; however, she failed to furnish the salary and employment agreement against which the permit was issued.

They pleaded that after the Panama Papers verdict of the Supreme Court, it was necessary for Ms Nawaz to disclose her salary as an asset.

The opposition parties’ candidates also pointed out discrepancies in 2015-16 statements of wealth tax submitted by Ms Nawaz.

They said the PML-N candidate also concealed assets and tax details of her husband, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The candidates asked the RO to reject the nomination papers of Ms Nawaz for violating provisions of Representation of Peoples Act 1976.

The RO had already summoned Ms Nawaz and Dr Yasmin Rashid of the PTI on Wednesday (today) for the scrutiny of their nomination papers.

Meanwhile, the RO also wrote a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) secretary for deployment of the army personnel on the polling day in NA-120.

Sources in the ECP said the secretary would decide on deployment of the army after reviewing security arrangements being taken for the polling.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2017