On Friday, the Supreme Court granted permission for Sanam Javed to participate in the upcoming general elections from NA-119, NA-120, and PP-150 Lahore, overturning the Lahore High Court’s decision on her nomination papers. The three-member SC bench, led by Justice Munib Akhtar, issued the verdict after hearing Javed’s appeal.
The written order stated that the court had considered arguments from both parties and converted the leave petition into an appeal, ultimately allowing it. The decision nullified the LHC’s judgment, accepting Javed’s nomination papers for the specified constituencies and including her name in the final list of candidates for the 2024 General Elections.
The court instructed the Election Commission of Pakistan to include her name and election symbol on the ballot papers.
During the hearing, the court noted that candidates could allocate a joint bank account for elections without legal restrictions. Javed’s lawyer explained that her nomination papers were rejected based on a misunderstanding regarding the date of an affidavit, emphasizing that she never claimed to have signed it on December 22.
The court questioned how the returning officer could personally conduct an inquiry into the matter. In response, the court approved Javed’s appeal, allowing her to contest the elections.