LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Wednesday summoned returning officer concerned along with record for July 5 on a petition filed by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi against his disqualification from NA-57 (Murree).
The bench comprising Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem heard the petition.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi along with his counsel appeared before the bench at the outset of the hearing in response to being summoned.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's counsel questioned the appellate tribunal verdict saying that his client declared all assets but the tribunal not only rejected his nomination papers but also disqualified him. He submitted that the tribunal did not have any authority to disqualify any candidate permanently.
The bench asked Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to avoid passing statements against the judiciary observing that the judiciary did not have any agenda. "Being a former premier, you (Abbasi) should save and rectify the system", the court remarked during the proceedings.
It is pertinent to mention here that the bench had already allowed former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to contest election from NA-57 ( Murree) while suspending appellate tribunal's decision.
Shahid Khaqan through his petition had challenged the tribunal's decision before the high court under its writ jurisdiction with a prayer to set aside tribunal's decision of rejecting his nomination papers and disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution.
An Appellate tribunal headed by Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi at the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court rejected the nomination papers of the former premier.
Meanwhile, the bench also adjourned hearing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Fawad Chaudhry's petition against the rejection of his nomination papers by appellate tribunal, till July 5. The bench had already allowed Fawad Chaudhry to contest election from NA-67 while suspending the tribunal's verdict.
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