By Hussain Kashif
LAHORE: The Election Commission of Punjab on Saturday rejected the nomination papers of three candidates, including a former provincial minister, for by-elections in NA-123.
In the third phase of by-elections, the commission has accepted the nomination papers of 82 candidates, including Malik Pervez, Hafiz Salman Butt and Mian Tahir Siddique. It has also declared that the nomination papers of 82 candidates, including a prisoner named Ijaz Momin who will now contest the by-elections from prison, are correct. Former provincial minister Chaudhry Akhtar Rasool filed his nomination papers for contesting by-elections in NA-123, but the commission rejected his papers due to his conviction in the Supreme Court attack case. The commission also rejected the nomination papers of advocate Azhar Siddique and MP Khan.
Azhar had filed an application against Malik Pervez of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that he (Malik) was holding the office of advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He said the rules did not allow Malik to participate in the elections until he resigned from his other position, but the commission rejected the objection, declaring it invalid.
Agreement: The PML-N has fielded Malik as its candidate in the constituency, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is not participating in the by-election due to an agreement between itself and the PML-N.
According to the agreement, both parties have committed not to field candidates against each other in a vacant seat of any constituencies where any of their candidates had previously won.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has also fielded its candidate, Mian Tahir Siddique, who is known to have good family relations and close friends in the constituency.
Candidate: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has nominated Hafiz Salman Butt as its candidate against the ruling party and inaugurated its main office in the constituency. The party established the office at Ghass Mundi Stop, Baghban Pura, which is the constituency’s most populated and central area.
Most political pundits are of the view that the PML-Q and JI could unite to strengthen their chances against the ruling party’s candidate before the polling day.
Source: Daily Times
Date:2/7/2010
