Pak EC allows Sharif brothers to contest polls

In a major relief to former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, Pakistan's Election Commission allowed them to contest the by-polls to be held in June.

The decision came a day after a two-member election tribunal gave a split verdict on the validity of their nomination papers and referred the matter to Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq.

The Election Commission upheld the initial decision by returning officers to accept the nominations filed by the Sharif brothers. It also rejected the challenges to their candidature as the election tribunal did not decide on the challenges within the stipulated timeframe.

Nawaz Sharif was unable to contest the February 18 general election due to the rejection of his nomination papers on the grounds that he was convicted in a criminal case, is seeking to enter the parliament through the bypolls scheduled for June 26.

Shahbaz, who too could not participate in the polls in February, is contesting by-elections to the Punjab assembly. The PML-N has said he will be made chief minister of the province once he emerges victorious in the elections.