LAHORE: An appellate tribunal comprising a judge of the Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notices to the returning officer (ROs) of different constituencies on the appeals against the rejection of nomination papers by PTI President Parvez Elahi, his family members, mother of PTI’s former leader Usman Dar and others.

Mr Elahi, his wife Qaisera Elahi and son former federal minister Moonis Elahi challenged the rejection of their nomination papers from NA-64, NA-69, PP-32 and PP-34 of Gujrat.

The appellants through their lawyers contended that the ROs dismissed the papers on political grounds. They said all properties were already declared in the FBR records.

Elahi’s lawyer said his nomination papers were rejected for not disclosing the ownership of a 10-marla plot.

The appellants requested the tribunal to set aside the decision of the ROs and accept their nomination papers.

Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh conducted the initial hearing on the appeals and sought replies from the respective ROs by Jan 8.

Another appellate tribunal issued notices to the RO of NA-71 on appeals of Usman Dar’s mother Rehana Dar and niece Ruba Umar against the rejection of their nomination papers.

The tribunal also issued notices on the appeals by Mumtaz Akhtar from NA-85, Ansar Iqal from NA-83, Mehboob Alam from NA-1031, Muhammad Khan from NA-86, Umar Farooq from NA-99, Naeem Haider from NA-82, Imtiaz Saleem from NA-87, Tariq Bashir from NA-128 and several others.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2024