Court rejects appeals against Kulsoom Nawaz’s papers

LAHORE: An election tribunal comprising Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh and Justice Shahid Waheed on Monday rejected the appeals against the acceptance of PML-N candidate Begum Kulsoom Nawaz’s nomination papers by the retuning officer for NA-120 by-election.

The appeals against the returning officer’s decision were filed by the PPP and PAT. The appellants’ lawyer argued that Begum Kulsoom concealed the facts about her financial status and resources. She claimed that she was dependent on her spouse Nawaz Sharif but was a shareholder in various companies, they claimed.

The counsel alleged that Begum Kulsoom did not pay agriculture income tax and showed the Iqama for a company in the UAE but not the salary receipts and other savings. She also did not mention belongings of her house in Murree, they added.

They said an FIR was registered against Begum Kulsoom under high treason charges and she had been declared a proclaimed offender. However, in order to substantiate his arguments, the counsel was unable to provide documentary evidence to the court.  After hearing all the parties, the election tribunal rejected the appeals and upheld the returning officer’s decision.