LAHORE: Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), lost his appeal against the rejection of nomination papers for the general elections scheduled for February 8 before the Lahore High Court (LHC).
The rulings made by the appellate tribunal and returning officer (RO) to reject the former premier’s disqualified nomination papers from the NA-89 and NA-122 constituencies were affirmed by the high court.
Judge Ali Baqar Najafi led a three-person bench that heard the plea on Wednesday.
Khan said in his request that, given the facts, the RO and appellate panel rejected his nomination papers and that, as a result, he ought to be allowed to run in the upcoming elections.
Following a hearing on both sides’ arguments, the LHC bench denied the politician’s appeal and affirmed the earlier rulings.
The former prime minister has submitted his nomination papers from the NA-89 and NA-122 constituencies in Mianwali and Lahore, respectively.
In addition, a number of petitions challenging the rejection of their nominations submitted by other PTI leaders were also heard by the high court.
The appeals submitted by PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, PTI Secretary General Hammad Azhar, PTI activist Sanam Javaid, and PTI leader Latif Khosa’s son Khurram Latif Khosa were also denied by the larger bench.
The move is a serious setback for the party, whose leadership is now dealing with numerous charges related to the May 9 riots, which have resulted in the arrest of prominent figures including Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and others.
