Dar to challenge rejection of nomination papers for Senate seat

ISLAMABAD: After rejection of nomination paper of Ishaq Dar for upcoming Senate elections merely on two main grounds for not providing bank account for two seats separately and attested copy of CNIC, former finance minister Ishaq Dar has announced to challenge this decision before the Election Tribunal in order to reverse it.

A copy of Provincial Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decision reads out that after detailed arguments, I (Punjab Returning Officer for Senate Election) safely reached to the conclusion that the candidate was required to maintain/open a separate account for each category of seat but he mentioned same bank account in both the nomination papers which amounts to mis-declaration signed by the candidate. Therefore the nomination papers of Mohammad Ishaq Dar nominated for the seat of technocrat and general are rejected under sub section 2 © (d) of section -110 of the Election Act 2017 signing of mis-declaration is of substantial nature. Moreover, an attested CNIC was not found attached with the nomination papers.

In the written order, it was further stated that both the nomination papers of the candidate were taken up for scrutiny on 12-2-2018 simultaneously in order to decide both the cases once for all. At about 3.30 pm both the parties joined the scrutiny process again.

Counsel of the candidate provided the paper under which NBP Model Branch Gulberg-II Lahore has clarified that Bank Account Number-4147766574 was opened on 02-02-2018. The candidate recorded/repeated the same bank account in both nomination papers submitted by him (through Proposers) for the category seat of technocrat & general respectively. He was required to open an exclusive bank account for each category of seat separately.

However, talking to The News from London on telephone, former finance minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that he would challenge this decision before the tribunal and would reverse it on the ground that there was no requirement under Election Act 2017 for furnishing separate accounts for separate seats. He said that it was misinterpretation of the election law as he had himself chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms that had architect this law under which the requirement of bank account was only related to basis of elections and not on the basis of each seat.

He termed it as ‘dictated decision’ of the ECP and added that there must not be personal grudge up to such an extent where laws were misinterpreted on the wish and whims for settling scores against opponents.

He said that he had duly attested all documents from High Commission before presenting to the Returning Officer of the Senate elections. He said that he used to contest on technocrat seat and it was argued before the ECP that the nomination paper of one seat could be withdrawn here just right away. To another query, Ishaq Dar said that his medical checkup was due next week and requested this scribe and people of Pakistan to remember him in their prayers for his early recovery.