SC allows PTI’s Parvez Elahi to contest polls from PP-32 – Pakistan

At the outset of today’s hearing, Elahi’s counsel Faisal Siddique contended before the court that ballot papers were currently being printed. He called on the court to let him present his arguments in the case. The court subsequently gave the parties till 11am to present their arguments.

When the hearing resumed, Justice Minallah highlighted that it was the court’s responsibility to interpret the Election Act in a way that did not deprive the people from choosing a representative of their choice.

In his arguments, Siddique told the court that he had not yet received the complete order by the RO which rejected Elahi’s nomination papers. He said that Elahi’s papers were rejected on the basis that he failed to open separate bank accounts for campaigning in different constituencies.

“Elahi is contesting from five constituencies,” he said. At this, Justice Minallah asked where the law said that separate accounts were required for the different constituencies.

“If there is an overspending during campaigning, the accounts are scrutinised after the polls are conducted,” Siddique said. He said that police were present when the nomination papers had to be submitted.

“Another objection raised in the plea is that my client hid the ownership of a 10 marla property in Punjab,” he added.

“My client never purchased this plot. He was in jail at that time,” he contended, adding that the purchasing date was from when Elahi was in jail.

Justice Mandokhail asserted that the reason behind asking about a person’s assets was to compare what he owned before and after coming into power.

“It is fine if you are rejecting the ownership of the plot,” the judge said.

“He is not contesting the elections for the first time,” Elahi’s lawyer said. “He has remained chief minister of the province twice,” he added.

He further said that the deadline for declaring assets was June 30, 2024. “Surprisingly, at the same time, the declared properties of Elahi, his wife Qaisra, and his son Moonis came to light,” he said.

Justice Mandokhail remarked that Elahi was a lucky man as new properties in his name had surfaced. “You should give these additional properties for charity purposes,” he quipped.

At one point, Justice Minallah remarked that it seemed as if the caretaker government was involved in getting Elahi’s nomination papers rejected. He said the RO’s job was to facilitate election candidates instead of burdening them.

“Unfortunately all this is happening with only one political party,” Justice Minallah said.

After hearing the arguments, the court declared the decision to reject Elahi’s nomination papers null and void and allowed him to contest the elections from PP-32.

The Supreme Court also directed the authorities concerned to allot Elahi an election symbol and have it included in the ballot papers.

Separately, the apex court allowed PTI leaders Umar Aslam and retired Major Tahir Sadiq to contest the upcoming general elections.