Sharifs allowed to contest polls

LAHORE — The Election Commission yesterday allowed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif to contest the by-election to be held on June 26, rejecting appeals against their candidature.
PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal told reporters at the Raiwind residence of the Sharifs that the Election Commission had communicated its decision to the PML-N leadership.
A two-judge election tribunal of the Lahore High Court had given a split mandate on the issue on Saturday and had referred the matter to the Chief Election Commissioner, the only relevant authority on the subject. Under the law, in case a tribunal gives a split judgment, the returning officer's decision prevails.
The PML-N has welcomed the Election Commission’s decision. However, now, the Sharifs think that somebody could file a writ petition before the Lahore High Court to get both the PML-N leaders out of the race. The Sharifs have discussed the matter with their legal aides and finalised their strategy.
NNI adds: Sharif had earlier refused to fight the case in the court as he did not want to appear before judges who had taken oath under the PCO issued by President Musharraf when he proclaimed emergency in November last year.
Both Sharif and his brother, Shahbaz, had filed nomination papers to run in the by election. Sharif's PML-N secured the second most number of votes in the February 18 parliamentary elections and has also formed government in Punjab.
PML-N ministers quit the federal cabinet after the ruling coalition failed to meet its deadline for the restoration of judges sacked by President Musharraf in September last year.