HARIPUR: The PTI candidate from NA-17 Haripur, Omar Ayub Khan, filed objection on Wednesday over the nomination papers of PML-N candidate Babar Nawaz Khan.

He sought rejection of the nomination papers of PML-N candidate under articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution for concealing information. The objection was filed through Advocate Rehman Qadir with the returning officer for NA-17.

Omar Ayub Khan through his counsel pointed out that Babar Nawaz Khan had been absconding in a drug smuggling case, registered against him and his paternal uncle former MPA Gohar Nawaz Khan under section 12 and 13 of CNSA at Clifton police stationin Karachi,since December 17, 2003.

Omar’s counsel said that Babar, who participated in the general elections 2013 and later in the by elections on NA-19, was a candidate for elections 2018. He said that the PML-N candidate concealed information about the criminal charges he had been facing for the last 15 years.

He also raised objection at the disparity in the declared assets and sources of income declared by Babar Nawaz. The counsel termed it negation of constitutional provisions of 62 and 63 and sought rejection of his papers on the grounds pointed out.

Meanwhile, Habibullah Khan, another candidate from NA-17, has also objected to the candidacy of Babar Nawaz Khan.

Babar Nawaz was elected MNA on PML-N ticket from Haripur after defeating Dr Raja Amir Zaman of PTI during the by-elections held in 2015. He and his uncle Gohar Nawaz have secured transit bail from the Abbottabad bench of Peshawar High Court till June 26.

The single bench of PHC headed by Justice Abdul Shakoor has directed the petitioners to approach the narcotics court in Karachi for the case.

The returning officer for NA-17, Faheem Afzal Khan, has fixed Thursday (today) for the arguments from both sides. However, he accepted the nomination papers of Omar Ayub Khan during the scrutiny that was held on Wednesday as there was no objection against him.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2018