SC dismisses appeal against acceptance of Kulsoom Nawaz's nomination papers

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court dismissed on Monday the appeal against the acceptance of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Kulsoom Nawaz’s nomination papers for NA-120.

Hearing the petition, filed by Pakistan Peoples Party’s Faisal Mir, the three-judge bench observed that the petitioner — who lost the by-election to Kulsoom on Sunday — did not provide sufficient details. 

Justice Gulzar Ahmed, who headed the bench, observed that the petitioner has levelled accusations but did not provide proof. 

Addressing Mir’s counsel, Justice Maqbool Baqar remarked that there were alternative forums for remedy available to the petitioner, such as the election tribunal.

Justice Qazi Faiz Esa observed that the matter pertains to the democratic process so it cannot be taken lightly and that the mandate of the people needs to be respected. 

Justice Ahmed observed further that the case cannot be taken forward without presentation of facts. 

Mir, along with the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), had challenged inthe apex court the dismissal of their petition by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on September 13 wherein they had challenged Kulsoom's candidature. 

Three identical petitions challenging her candidature had been filed in LHC by Mir, PAT's Advocate Ishtiaq Ahmad Chaudhry and Milli Muslim League's Nabeel Shahzad against the decisions of the NA-120 returning officer and the election tribunal which had rejected objections against her nomination papers.

PAT, on Monday, withdrew its appeal against the LHC decision in the Supreme Court. 

Kulsoom bagged NA-120 — her husband and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's home seat — after defeating the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate by a margin of around 14,000 votes, according to unofficial results.