KARACHI: Returning officers scrutinise nomination papers and grill candidates who are to participate in the May 11 elections.
The candidates, belonging to different political parties, were questioned on their basic knowledge of Islam during scrutiny of their filed papers on Tuesday.Even the candidate of Jamaat-e-Islami, Usman Sharif, contesting for NA-249, Karachi, was confused when the concerned returning officer asked him about six ‘Kalimahs’. Similarly other candidates also passed through awkward situations when they were asked questions about Islamic education.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Nabeel Gabol said everybody was a Muslim and understood the basic tenants of Islam. He added that the returning officers should not have asked such questions. Bashir Jan of Awami National Party also expressed similar views. He said he was a Pakhtun and everybody was aware that religion is a part of culture of Pakhtun community.Earlier, the returning officers accepted the nomination papers filed by various aspiring candidates.
Those include MQM’s Wasim Akhtar, Nabil Gabol, Syed Sardar Ahmed, Faisal Sabzwari, Muhammad Moin Aamir Pirzada, the Pakistan Muslim League-N’s Ali Akbar Gujar, and Awami National Party (ANP)’s Bashir Jan.Later, talking to the media persons, Gabol claimed that a large number of disgruntled workers of the PPP in Lyari would soon join MQM. He claimed that many party-workers had contacted him, adding some already joined the MQM.He said the MQM is not a linguistic party, adding 70 percent supporters belong to communities other than the Urdu speaking. Gabol further claimed that he would contest from his ancestral constituency Lyari. – DailyTimes
