Murad, Swati declared eligible for Senate polls

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: An appellate tribunal has overturned the rejection of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stalwart Azam Swati’s nomination papers for forthcoming Senate election — scheduled for April 2.

The appellate tribunal — set up by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for listening to the poll-related complaints — heard Swati’s petition against rejection of his nomination papers on Senate’s general and technocrat seats ahead of the poll. However, the tribunal would announce its verdict after deliberations on the politician’s appeal for his nomination for technocrat seat.

The hearing was conducted by tribunal’s judge Justice Shakeel Ahmad in which lawyers from both sides appeared. The judge questioned on which grounds, the nominations were rejected.

Swati’s lawyer apprised Justice Ahmad that there were a total of three persons filed objections against his client’s nomination, of which two complaints were not candidates in the forthcoming election. Swati provided details of cases against him in nominations for Senate poll, which were not provided during general elections, the counsel said while detailing genre of objections before the tribunal.

The counsel continued that his client was himself unaware of complete details of cases against him which were provided over orders of the high court. Subsequently, another complainant raised objection that Swati was “ineligible” for contesting poll on Upper House’s technocrat seat, as he is “inexperienced”. The counsel added that his client spent 18 years as senator, including two terms on technocrat seat, and one term on general seat.