Election tribunals give green signal to Abbasi, Asif, Ashiq to contest polls

Respective election tribunals gave on Tuesday the green signal to several political leaders to contest the upcoming general elections, whose nomination papers had been put on hold.

Former Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who had submitted nomination papers from Sialkot's NA-73 constituency, has now been allowed to contest after the appellate tribunal dismissed a petition against his candidacy, local media reported.

A petition was filed against Asif's nomination papers, stating that the former minister had not fully disclosed his assets to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Similarly, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has also been cleared to contest from Islamabad's NA-53 constituency. The Returning Officer (RO) had rejected nomination papers of the ex-PM on the pretext of not submitting adequate documents showing Abbasi's progress in his respective district.

An appellate tribunal has also allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Firdous Ashiq Awan to contest elections from NA-72 Sialkot-I constituency. A petitioner, Zaid Lateef, objected that Awan had not filled the column to disclose details of her marriage. Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi rejected his petition stating that the respective RO had accepted Awan's nomination papers.

Political parties are gearing up to battle out in the upcoming polls. Only a month remains until Pakistan holds its general election on July 25.