Lahore, February 16: Pakistan’s main Opposition PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif today withdrew his nomination papers for next month’s parliamentary by-polls after his party decided that he can mount greater pressure on the ruling coalition from outside the House.
Sharif had earlier announced his decision not to contest the by-polls but the former premier had to withdraw his nomination papers after his candidature was challenged in the Lahore High Court.
Freelance journalist Shahid Orakzai filed a petition in the High Court?s election tribunal on Friday in which he alleged that after the 1993 general election, Sharif and his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, had negotiated a deal with him to “buy” the votes of seven parliamentarians from the tribal areas for the election of the speaker of the National Assembly.? ?
The Court today reserved its judgment on Orakzai?s petition after hearing arguments by lawyers from both sides.
–Agencies