SC bars JUI candidate from NA-252 election bid

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained Jamiat Ulema Islam candidate Abdul Hafeez Loni from contesting the general election from NA-252, a newly created constituency comprising districts of Loralai, Musakhel, Ziarat, etc. in Balochistan.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, rejected the appeal filed by Abdul Hafeez Loni against the verdict of Balochistan High Court. The court upheld the decision of Election Tribunal and Balochistan High Court, rejecting Loni’s nomination papers.

During the hearing, the counsel for Abdul Hafeez Loni argued that his client had been convicted in a NAB corruption case, but the sentence had been completed, and he should be allowed to contest the election. The counsel also mentioned that his client was in jail for two years and the NAB court had sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment and fined him five crore rupees.

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa observed that the client had remained behind bars for only two years and two months, despite the NAB court awarding him a 10-year sentence with a fine of five crore rupees. The CJP said that his client had been outside jail for eight years, during which he was on the payroll but did not pay the fine of five crore rupees.

“Such individuals should not represent the people of Balochistan in the election and should stay at home, as the election will cost them,” remarked CJP. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar suggested confiscating his property for not paying the five-crore fine.

The court dismissed the appeal of Abdul Hafeez Loni and upheld the verdict of the Balochistan High Court.