Former Punjab chief minister and PTI President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Wednesday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court (SC), seeking annulment of the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision, dated January 13, of rejection of his nomination papers for the general elections, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Making the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and an election tribunal respondents in his appeal, Elahi said that his papers had been rejected when a rival candidate, Muhammad Salim, had raised an objection that he had shares in the Lahore Modern Atta Mills. “As a matter of fact I never purchased shares in the mills,” the PTI president said, adding, “Secondly, these units are already shut. And the mills which are closed don’t fall in the category of assets.”
It was an established fact, the former chief minister said, that a candidate could not be disqualified on the basis of an asset which he or she had not disclosed in his or her papers. “It is necessary to first know the intention behind concealing of the assets,” Elahi argued.
The appellant further said that the properties he had shown on papers were valued at Rs175 million. “Another allegation, which was levelled against me, was that I had not disclosed seven arms’ licenses. But there is no column on the papers for mentioning the number of licenses one possesses,” he argued.
LHC puts off hearing of Elahi’s bail cancellation plea
On the other hand, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of the petition, seeking cancellation of PTI president’s bail in a corruption case until January 30.
Justice Asjad Javed Gharral heard the Punjab government’s plea.
Reporters: Amanat Gishkori and Malik Ashraf