The Election Tribunal approved the nomination papers of Chairman PTI Imran Khan from NA-108 and NA-118 and allowed him to contest the election from both constituencies.
The Tribunal rejected PML-N’s appeal against approval of Imran Khan’s papers from NA-118, nullified the decision of the Returning Officer regarding NA-108 Faisalabad.
During the hearing of the appeal against the acceptance of Imran Khan’s nomination papers from NA-118 Nankana in the Election Tribunal, the appellant Muslim League-N candidate Shazra Mansab’s lawyer appeared while the associate lawyer said that Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar Kuch Will appear later.
Justice Shahid Waheed said that the appellant’s counsel should start arguments, I will decide after listening to the parties. Oath was not verified by the Commissioner.
Justice Shahid Waheed remarked that the Supreme Court has said that the nomination papers cannot be rejected on the ground that the affidavit is not attested by the Oath Commissioner, which is a defect which can be rectified if you object to the returning officer. If it has not been raised before, it cannot be raised in the appeal.
Justice Shahid Waheed inquired that the Oath Commissioner of the affidavit tell any other ground apart from the confirmation point?
Counsel for the appellant submitted that the defect of non-attestation of the affidavit cannot be removed.
The lawyer-appellant said that the valuables of the wardrobe were not declared in the FBR returns, the wardrobe items were written in the tax returns of 2021, nothing was written in the returns of 2020 and 2019.
Justice Shahid Waheed said that valuable items may not have been taken from the closet during this period, and detailed the items taken from the closet in 2019 and 2020.
The appellant’s lawyer said that Imran Khan’s affidavit is not valid even for not writing the items of the coffin.
He said that the items worth 56 lakhs and 33 lakhs which were taken from the closet were not recorded.
The appellant said that Imran Khan’s wife bought items worth 1 crore 20 lakhs from Tosha Khan from March 2020 to June 2021.
Justice Shahid Waheed inquired whether this tribunal should inquire into these matters.
Appellant’s lawyer Mansoor Usman said that no, we do not want an inquiry, if the gifts bought from the coffin are sold, then the money should appear in the account of Imran Khan’s wife.
Justice Shahid Waheed said that it is also possible that he has donated these gifts, in which case it is not necessary to disclose them in the nomination papers.
Counsel for the appellant submitted that it is not necessary to disclose the donated item but the facts thereof should be known.
Justice Shahid Waheed dismissed PML-N’s appeal against approval of Imran Khan’s papers after the arguments were completed.
