The Appellate Tribunal of the Lahore High Court, constituted for the upcoming general elections, held a hearing Wednesday on an appeal challenging the approval of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's nomination papers from National Assembly Constituency 130. The appeal, filed by local lawyer Ishtiaq Ahmed, argues that Sharif's lifetime disqualification renders him ineligible to contest. Judge Risal Hasan Syed overruled an objection raised by the Registrar's Office regarding missing attested documents in the appeal. He further directed the Returning Officer (RO) who approved Sharif's nomination to appear before the Tribunal in person. Ahmed's appeal hinges on the Supreme Court's 2017 verdict in the Panama Papers case, which disqualified Sharif for life from holding public office. He contends that the RO's decision to accept Sharif's nomination papers was against the law and should be overturned. The Tribunal's decision to summon the RO marks a significant development in the case. His testimony will be crucial in determining whether Sharif's nomination will stand or be rejected. The Tribunal's judgment will have major implications for the upcoming elections, potentially impacting the political landscape of Pakistan.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)