Sharif to EC: review rejection of nomination

Sharif’s brother Shahbaz, talking to reporters in Lahore, made it clear that they would not file appeals against the rejection of their nominations because they did “not expect justice from judges who have taken oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order” issued by President Pervez Musharraf. The brothers said in their letter that if the Election Commission did not address their concerns and sent the matter to an appellate bench comprising judges, they would not appear before it.

“We have written a letter to the Election Commission expressing our concerns about election tribunals and appellate benches comprising judges who have taken oath under the PCO,” Shahbaz said.

Shahbaz said that he and his brother would not appear before such judges as it would negate the demand of their PML-N party for reinstating judges who were sacked for not endorsing the Emergency. Shahbaz’s nomination papers were rejected after a rival candidate from the ruling PML-Q party sought his disqualification for his alleged involvement in the extra-judicial killing of five youths in 1998. Nawaz Sharif’s nominations were rejected due to his conviction on hijacking and terrorism charges.