ISLAMABAD, DEC 30: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Saturday approved nomination papers of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, but rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Zulfi Bukhari and Azam Swati’s papers from different constituencies.
Maryam’s spokesperson said her nomination papers from the Lahore and Sargodha constituencies were approved by the returning officers (ROs), but added that she would contest general elections from the constituencies where the party would decide.
The PML-N scion submitted nomination papers from two National Assembly constituencies — NA-19 and NA-120 — and four Punjab Assembly constituencies — PP-159, PP-160, PP-165 and PP-80.
Upon rejection of Swati’s papers, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Jahangir Jadoon Advocate told the journalists in Mansehra that it was essential for the candidate contesting polls to be present in the country.
Jadoon, who filed objections against Swati, said the PTI leader was only asked to appear before the RO after which the objections would be withdrawn.
The RO later confirmed that the PTI leader’s nomination papers were rejected from NA-15.
Swati’s lawyer Sohail Swati said Azam Khan’s papers were rejected claiming his signatures to be fake and raising objection on him being an absconder. He said they would approach the election tribunal against the decision.
Bukhari, on the other hand, said his papers were not being accepted claiming that his signatures were not genuine, which he termed “ridiculous”. The close aide of PTI founder Imran Khan said he even had them notarised and counter signed by the oath commission.
Announcing to move court against the decision, Bukhari also alleged that six people including his lawyers, proposers and seconders had been abducted.
“My lawyers, proposers and seconders have been abducted from inside. No one else was allowed in. A complete violation of justice and rule of law. This is not an election it’s a joke like the jokers in the care taker govt. Going to court!” the PTI leader wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
On December 26, the PML-N supremo’s nomination papers for the NA-130 constituency in Lahore were approved by the ECP without any objection.
It should be noted that today is the last day of scrutiny of nomination papers submitted by candidates aspiring to contest general elections 2024.
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