Hearing of appeals against rejection of nomination papers for 2024 general elections began on Monday.  Election tribunals comprising judges of high courts are hearing appeals. According to the schedule issued by the Election Commission (ECP), appeals can be filed till January 3 as the process of scrutiny of nomination papers completed on Saturday (Dec 30). Appellate tribunals, headed by judges of high courts, will hear appeals and issue verdict by January 10. The revised list of candidates will be published on January 11 and candidature can be withdrawn by January 12, read the schedule. Election symbols will be allotted to political parties on Jan 13 and voting will be held throughout the country on February 8. The election schedule was announced by the ECP on Dec 15 detailing how the process would be completed.

It may be recalled that in Rawalpindi district, the returning officers rejected nomination papers of 66 candidates for seven National Assembly seats and 149 nominations papers for 14 Punjab Assembly seats. An Election Tribunal comprising Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf and Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz is hearing appeals. The nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and several other party leaders have been rejected by the returning officers. Those whose nomination papers have been rejected include former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, Akhtar Mengal, Fawad Chaudhary and his wife Hiba Fawad, Azam Swati, Zulfiqar Mirza, Fahmida Mirza and their son. Similarly, nomination papers of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed have also been rejected.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)