Pak EC approves Shahbaz, Imran nomination papers

When Orakzai persisted with his arguments, one of the judges of the tribunal that consisted of two high court judges, said ‘‘Don’t try to dictate the court,’’ local daily The News reported today.

The papers of Nawaz Sharif’s wife Khulsoom have also been accepted. She will contest the polls from Lahore. Officials had earlier said they would not allow Shahbaz, nominated as leader of the Pakistan Muslim league (N), to return to Pakistan to contest the polls.

The tribunal also approved the nomination of Imran Khan, leader of the Tehrik-i-Insaaf, to contest the polls from his hometown Mian Wali in Punjab, when his graduation certificate issued by the Oxford University was produced by his counsel. Imran is contesting from three other constituencies on Punjab and NWFP. The tribunal, rejected the nominations of three former MPs of PML for attacking the Lahore High Court over dispute on the judgement in a case.

Meanwhile, the petition of former PM Benazir Bhutto challenging the rejection of her nominations papers in three constituencies in southern Sindh would come up for hearing on September 11, spokesman of her Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Fratullah Babar said. Bhutto, living in self-exile abroad, has challenged the rejection of her papers on two counts.

Her lawyers said her nomination papers were declared rejected by Radio Pakistan, Karachi, in its afternoon broadcast on September 1, two hours before the papers were officially declared rejected. She also alleged discrimination by the poll officials in selectively applying the new electoral rules brought in by the military regime.