Acceptance of nomination papers of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party-Parliamentarians president Mukhdoom Amin Faheem have been challenged in election tribunals.

Election tribunals set up across the country, after the scrutiny process, now face the task of dealing with appeals filed against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers.

One of the key leaders who seem to be affected by the appeals is the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief. The appeal, filed by Afshan Ameerud Din, sister of Arif Ameer also known as Tippu Truckaan Wala, alleges that the returning officer for NA-120 (Lahore) had failed to comprehend paragraphs 14 and 15 from the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Asghar Khan case.

The appellant, who is also a candidate from PP-140, stated that the apex court had observed that legal proceedings should be initiated by the FIA against politicians involved in rigging the 1990 elections.

She argued that since the decision was binding on all executive authorities including the Election Commission of Pakistan, the RO should not have accepted the nomination papers. She added that the RO had also failed to exercise his legal obligations to see the conduct of PML-N chief who, according to her, has illegally occupied her property.

Meanwhile, Makhdoom Amin Fahim’s nomination papers are challenged for defaulting on electricity bills and not declaring the complete list of his assets.Abdul Razzak Memon, the petitioner, claims that owing to Fahim’s involvement in the NICL scam he is ineligible to contest the elections. Moreover, Fahim, who will contest elections from NA-218, is also accused of withholding details of his assets.

The election tribunal on Tuesday turned down the appeal against the acceptance of ex-Intelligence Bureau chief Ijaz Shah’s nomination papers asking the appellant to approach a more appropriate forum against him.

Naveed Shaheen alleged that Shah had ‘pressurised’ the chief justice and his colleagues to resign following orders from former army chief General Pervez Musharraf. At this, the tribunal observed that the allegations levelled against Shah were of a serious nature and should be reviewed by a court. The tribunal court thus suggested Shaheen to withdraw his appeal.

Abdul Aziz, a transgender known as Bindiya Rana, has challenged the rejection of his nomination papers to contest the upcoming election from PS-114 (Karachi). He complained that the RO had only rejected his papers because he failed to produce his original ID card to the concerned officer during scrutiny.

A total of 320 appeals have been filed in the LHC while at least 58 candidates have so far filed appeals against the rejection of their nomination papers from different constituencies of Sindh.