Acceptance of Jamal Raisani’s nomination papers challenged in SC

ISLAMABAD: The nomination papers of former caretaker provincial minister Jamal Khan Raisani, accepted by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), was challenged in the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday.

Ghulam Nabi Marri, a candidate of Balochistan National Party (BNP), filed a petition for leave to appeal under Article 185(3) of the Constitution against the judgment dated January 12, 2024 passed by the Balochistan High Court (BHC).

He prayed the apex court to grant him lave to appeal against the BHC and the judgment passed by it be set aside by upholding the order of Election Tribunal and directions be issued to Returning Officer (RO)/Assistant Commissioner Saddar, Quetta to delete the name of Jamal Khan Raisani from the list of validly nominated candidates for forthcoming general elections 2024 in the interest of justice

He contended that he had filed nomination papers and date of scrutiny was fixed for December 29, 2023, however, he was told that Jamal Khan Raisani had also filed nomination papers whereupon, objections were filed upon his candidature being a member of the caretaker minister and having no entry in electoral role.

He, however, submitted the RO accepted the nomination paper of Raisani on the grounds that he has resigned before the elections programme was announced.

He submitted that he, later on, moved the Election Tribunal Quetta for relief which finally directed the RO to delete the name of Raisani from the list of validly nominated candidates.

The respondent Jamal Raisani, however, moved the BHC against the Election Tribunal verdict and the high court accepted his petition after issuance of the revised list of validly nominated candidates, the petitioner submitted.