Lahore: Pakistani election authorities today accepted nomination papers filed by former premier Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif for next month's by-polls, setting aside objections from their opponents.

The nomination filed by Nawaz Sharif, the chief of PML-N, for by-poll to a parliamentary constituency in his traditional stronghold of Lahore was accepted by an election tribunal headed by Additional Sessions Judge Chaudhry Badruddin.

The tribunal also accepted the nomination papers of his nephew Hamza Sharif, who is the covering candidate for the PML-N chief.

Opposition PML-Q worker Noor Elahi had voiced opposition to Sharif filing nomination papers, alleging he was involved in an attack on the Supreme Court and had been convicted on terrorism charges for trying to turn away a plane carrying General Pervez Musharraf back to Pakistan from a foreign trip.

Elahi also alleged Sharif had defaulted on bank loans and was using the issue of reinstating judges deposed during last year s emergency to exploit the sentiments of people. Judge Badruddin rejected these allegations and accepted Sharif's nomination papers as well as those of Hamza, son of Shahbaz Sharif.

Sharif plans to contest the by-poll from a constituency that was won by senior PML-N leader Javed Hashmi, who gave up the seat as he registered victories in three constituencies. Another election tribunal accepted Shahbaz Sharif s nomination papers to contest by-poll to a constituency of Punjab assembly. The PML-N has said Shahbaz will become Chief Minister of province on winning the polls.
Source : PTI