LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday
dismissed as not maintainable an appeal challenging the candidature of former finance minister Ishaq Dar for Senate election.
A LHC bench, comprising Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh and Justice Jawad Hassan, observed that prima facie the appellate was not an aggrieved party as he failed
to challenge the nomination papers of the respondent before the returning officer (RO). The bench observed that the appellate could approach an election tribunal for the required relief after election.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Nawazish Ali Pirzada had moved the appeal against the verdict of an appellate tribunal that had allowed Ishaq Dar to contest the Senate election after setting aside an order of the returning officer (RO). The counsel for the appellate said
that an accountability court of I
slamabad had declared Ishaq Dar an absconder for not attending proceedings against him in cor
ruption references. He pleaded that the returning officer had rightly rejected the nomination papers of Ishaq Dar but the LHC appellate tribunal accepted former finance minister’s appeal against the rejection of nomination papers. He asserted
that an absconder could not be eligible to vie for election. After hearing the parties, the bench
dismissed the appeal as not maintainable.
Dar is in London since October and has been seeking treatment of an undefined heart complication at a Harley Street hospital.
Published in Daily Times, March 3rd 2018.