SC decides to hear cases against candidates after elections

ISLAMABAD - Eliminating a potential threat to conduct July 25 election on time, the Supreme Court has halted hearing of three cases against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers of candidates contesting elections in Punjab till the polls are over.

A three-member bench, headed by Justice Azmat Sheikh, on Thursday observed that the petitions against the candidature will be heard after the polls.

The apex court has allowed Khwaja Islam and Mir Badshah Qaisarin who are taking part in elections as independent candidates from  PP-111 Faisalabad and PP-285 D.G. Khan respectively.

A PTI candidate,  Ahmad Joiya, who is a contesting election from NA-146 Arif Wala has also been permitted by the court, saying the case against him will be heard after the elections.

The candidature of Joiya was challenged by petitioner Waseem Zafar stating that the PTI candidate had mentioned his educational qualification to be graduate in the previous three  elections, adding that he has declared himself as marticulate in 2018 elections.