Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif's nomination from Lahore seat challenged by PTI

Senior members of the party of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan challenged the acceptance of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s nomination papers for the National Assembly seat in Lahore for the general elections on Monday, claiming the three-time former prime minister was declared permanently ineligible by the highest court in 2017. Following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) rejection of Nawaz Khan’s nomination papers along with those of ninety percent of the party’s prominent leaders, Imran Khan’s party filed an appeal with the appellate tribunal. However, Nawaz Sharif’s candidatures for two National Assembly seats from Mansahara and Lahore were recognised by the ECP. The PTI leaders from throughout the nation have had their nomination papers rejected in large numbers by the bureaucrat returning officers, ostensibly at the behest of the military establishment. Several PTI heavyweights, including former federal ministers Moonis Elahi and Zartaj Gul, PTI President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, contested the high court’s election tribunals’ decision to reject their papers on Monday. For the national and provincial assembly seats, the nomination papers of nearly 3,500 candidates have been rejected by the Returning Officers. Attorney Ishtiaq Ahmad appealed against Nawaz Sharif’s candidature, arguing that he was disqualified for life by the Supreme Court, on Monday before the Lahore High Court’s appellate chamber. Pakistan’s military establishment has already predicted that Nawaz Sharif will become prime minister for a record fourth time. Political experts claim that the military has eliminated all obstacles, both legal and otherwise, in his path to becoming prime minister for a record-breaking fourth time. The ECP, meanwhile, asserted that Imran Khan’s nomination papers for two National Assembly seats in the cities of Mianwali and Lahore were turned down for “moral” reasons in addition to his involvement in the Toshakhana corruption case. On January 11, the preliminary list of candidates will be revealed, and by the following day, contenders may withdraw their nomination forms. On January 13, the electoral emblems will be assigned, and on February 8, general election polling will take place. The PTI has termed the rejection of nomination papers of most of its candidates including its founder Imran Khan on flimsy grounds as “state terrorism.” “Returning officers are accomplices & reason why PTI had requested ROs from the Judiciary & not bureaucracy. Some group members may not be aware but bureaucracy including deputy commissioners signing illegal restraining orders for PTI leadership have been appointed ROs by the interim setup, adding more hostility to the already perpetuated situation,” a PTI spokesperson said. (With agency inputs)