Maryam, Sanam electoral contest unlikely as tribunal rejects PTI activist’s appeal

• Tribunal rejects appeal against acceptance of Maryam’s papers.
• Hammad Azhar’s nomination papers from PP-171 approved.
• Tribunal upholds decision to reject Sanam’s nomination papers.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Appellate Tribunal on Sunday dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Sanam Javaid’s appeal against the rejection of her nomination papers, while the tribunal cleared Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz to contest February 8 elections.

The tribunal upheld the returning officer (RO) decision to reject incarcerated Sanam’s nomination papers submitted from two National Assembly seats and one provincial assembly seat — NA-120, NA-119 and PP-150. Justice Tariq Nadeem announced the verdict on her appeals.

On the other hand, the tribunal rejected an appeal filed by Nadeem Sherwani against acceptance of Maryam’s nomination papers by the returning officer from NA-119.

On December 19, Sanam submitted her nomination papers announcing to contest elections against Maryam Nawaz from Lahore’s provincial assembly seat, PP-150.

Sanam is among dozens of PTI workers and leaders who are in custody in connection with the May 9 riots that broke out following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a graft case.

She was booked in multiple cases including an attack on the Corps Commander House in Lahore and torching of police vehicles in the Cantonment area during the violent protests earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the LHC Appellate Tribunal overturned RO’s decision of rejecting the nomination papers of PTI leader Hammad Azhar and his father Mian Azhar from PP-171 over their seconders and proposers’ not showing up. 

Their seconders and proposers appeared before the tribunal upon which Justice Ahmed Nadeem Arshad announced the verdict in their favour.

However, Justice Tariq Nadeem dismissed Azhar’s appeal against rejection of his papers from the NA-129 constituency.