Sanam Javed, Shaukat Basra eligible for elections, rules SC

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the Supreme Court has granted permission to Sanam Javed to contest elections from National Assembly constituencies NA-119, NA-120, and Provincial Assembly Constituency PP-150, overturning the decisions of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The apex court also permitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) candidate Shaukat Basra from NA-163 Bahawalnagar, to enter the electoral race. The hearing was presided over by a three member bench including Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Shahid Waheed.

The hearing, which focused on the nomination papers of Sanam Javed and Shaukat Basra, unfolded with intense legal arguments. Sanam Javed’s papers faced rejection on the grounds of not opening a separate bank account, as highlighted by the petitioner’s lawyer. Javed had disclosed a joint account with her father in the submitted documents, prompting objections on the absence of a dedicated election account.

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Javed’s counsel argued against the demand for a separate bank account, citing Javed’s nine months in jail as an impediment to the process. “How can a woman in jail open a bank account?” the lawyer questioned.

The courtroom discussions delved into the intricacies of the election schedule and the timing of paper submissions. Justice Irfan Saadat Khan questioned the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) adherence to a 3 o’clock deadline.

Justice Muneeb Akhtar highlighted the legality of opening a new account, asserting that existing single and joint accounts should be deemed acceptable. He argued against the deprivation of candidates who submit their papers after the scheduled time, stating that the law imposes no restrictions on joint accounts.

Ultimately, the Supreme Court accepted the nomination papers of both Sanam Javed and Shaukat Basra. The Election Commission has been directed to include their names on the ballot paper. The court clarified that candidates can allocate a joint account for the election, bringing clarity to the issue at hand.