Pak polls: Abbasi’s nomination papers rejected

Rawalpindi: An appellate election tribunal on Wednesday rejected the nomination papers of Pakistan’s former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi submitted for NA-57, Murree – his home constituency.

Rawalpindi’s Election Appellate Tribunal judge Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi had reserved his judgement on Monday over a plea filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf worker Masood Ahmed Abbasi against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s nomination papers.

Petitioner Masood Ahmed Abbasi had challenged former prime minister’s candidature, alleging that he extorted money from the national exchequer, reported Geo TV.

The petitioner also accused Abbasi of obtaining Rs1 billion from the national kitty and handing over the amount to his son to perform Umrah.

The appellant tribunal chaired by Justice Ibadul Rehman Lodhi of the Lahore High Court (LHC) accepted all the objections of the petitioner.

The applicant stated that Khaqan Abbasi had tempered his records submitted to the Returning Officer and provided incorrect details about his properties.

Among other allegations, the petitioner has accused Abbasi of purposefully damaging national security by backing a controversial interview that Nawaz Sharif had given.

The appellate tribunal had earlier also suspended the returning officer for not correctly vetting Abbasi’s nomination papers.

Pakistan will hold general elections on July 25.

(ANI)