ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Saturday accepted appeals of 15 candidates and will hear four remaining appeals and eleven applications today (Friday). The appeals were heard by the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (R) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan and three Election Commission Members Riaz Kayani, Shahzad Akbar Khan and Fazlur Rahman here. Those, whose applications have been accepted and hence nomination papers also found in order, include 14 candidates from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and one from Punjab. “Majority of candidates faced objections from the FBR for not submitting their tax details. But since they live in Fata that is a tax-free zone, this objection was set aside,” said a senior ECP official while talking to The News. The panel has sought more details from four candidates, namely Syed Muhammad Hussain, Dr Aurangzeb Khan, Muhammad Kamran and Habib Malak Orakzai. Their applications will be disposed of Friday. Similarly, eleven applications will also be heard on Friday at 9.00 am at the Election Commission Secretariat. One Shahid Jami, reportedly from Lahore, has filed five applications, challenging the candidature of as many candidates, including Rashid, Raja Zafar, Malik, Waqar Ahmad Khan and Ammar Ahmad Khan. Muhammad Ali has challenged nominations of Waqar Ahmad Khan and Ammar Ahmad Khan. Both brothers hail from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.One of the prominent candidates Nargis Faiz Malik, who belongs to PPP, has challenged the nomination of Raheela Magsi, who hails from Tando Allahyar district of Sindh but has applied for the Senate polls from the federal capital. All the eleven applications have been filed under Section 13 (6) of the Senate Elections Act, 1975. Those, who submitted appeals against the rejection of their nominations include Munir Khan Orakzai, Rahat Yousaf, Abdul Malik Qadri, Abdul Qadir and Dr Aurangzeb Khan.The Punjab P Coop. Bank, Lahore has also challenged the nomination of Ammar Ahmad Khan, whereas Muhammad Ali has challenged nomination papers of both Khan brothers.
