PTI leader’s nomination papers rejected for technocrat seat

ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Saifullah Abro suffered a setback on Monday after an election tribunal ruled that he did not qualify as a technocrat.

Abro had been awarded the ticket by the PTI to contest the upcoming elections for the upper house. Some leaders from the PTI’s Sindh chapter had protested against the move and appealed to PM Imran Khan.

The PTI leaders had protested that Abro was a wealthy contractor who should not be awarded the seat. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan had rejected the PTI Sindh leaders’ objections and went ahead with nominating him for the seat.

The returning officer’s (RO) decision to accept the nomination papers of the PTI leader was challenged by GM Khan and Shahid Ali last week.

The election tribunal took up the petition on Monday and heard arguments from both parties.

In its verdict, the tribunal declared the verdict of the RO null and void and ruled that Abro cannot contest the Senate polls.

“The objections raised by the petitioners were proved true and Saifullah Abro does not fulfil the requirement of a technocrat,” the order stated.