Nawaz declared ineligible for vote
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Returning Officer Raja Qamar ur Zaman on Monday rejected the nomination papers of PML (N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif for NA constituency 120 while papers of his opposing candidate Khawaja Tahir Zia has been formally accepted. It is learnt that due to his departure to Islamabad, Nawaz Sharif did not present himself before the Returning Officer and instead his Lawyer Khawaja Haris Ahmed and Imtiaz Kafi were present before the Returning Officer Raja Qamar ur Zaman.
While hearing the arguments of both the parties, Returning officer formally decided to accept the nomination papers of opposing candidate Khawaja Tahir Zia PML (Q) while refusing to accept papers of Nawaz Sharif due to his alleged involvement in conspiracy to hijack PIA plane carrying President Musharraf in Oct 1999. It is pertinent to mention that Nawaz Sharif’s brother Shahbaz Sharif papers have already been rejected. The Candidates can appeal to the Election Commission till December 7 and decision will be announced on December 14. Former Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said Monday that he would not file an appeal against rejection of his nomination papers. Talking to reporters after meeting Turkish President Abdullah Gul here, he said an appeal over rejection of his nomination papers would be “tantamount to recognizing the courts working under Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).”
He said the rejection of Shehbaz Sharif’s nomination papers was “first shot” by the government. “Rejection of my nomination papers is another blow but this cannot weaken our determination,” he added. Nawaz Sharif said he would take his case to the platform of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM). Accompanied by PML-N leaders Raja Zafar ul Haq, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Ahsan Iqbal, he said his party would continue its struggle for the revival of the democracy, constitution and the judiciary.
“I have no personal enmity with the rulers but want to see people prospering and enjoying their rights,” the former prime minister said. About his meeting with the Turkish President, he said it was very positive and he was greatly impressed by vision of Abdullah Gul. “He (Abdullah Gul) is a friend of Pakistan and desires stability in our country,” Nawaz Sharif said.
Former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Monday said that his party would continue it struggle for the restoration of the pre-emergency status of the judiciary. He was at a gathering of party workers here at the residence of PML-N chairman Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, his first in Islamabad after his return from exile on November 25. “I do not want power; I want to see people prospering. I have come back to the homeland to struggle for a bright future for Pakistan and its people. Participating in the election is not my aim,” the former premier said.
PML-N Qauid said he was not disturbed by the rejection of his and Shahbaz Sharif’s nomination papers for the January 8 general election.