Sajjad Haider <\/p>\n
KARACHI: The Election Commission has rejected the nomination papers of renowned columnist and Pakistan Muslim League \u2013 Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Amir \u2018for writing against the ideology of Pakistan\u2019 in his columns.<\/p>\n
District Returning Officer (DRO) Ch Anwer Ahmed Khan also summoned Amir to appear before court by April 6.<\/p>\n
Eyewitnesses said local residents Arif Mehmood and Khawaja Babar Saleem Mehmood had registered their objections with the local office of the election commission saying Amir\u2019s columns were in conflict with the ideology of Pakistan. Over which, the returning office rejected Amir\u2019s papers and referred them back to the ECP.<\/p>\n
Khawaja Baber Saleem Mehmood, who is the chairman of the local press club, had filed objections through his lawyer Khawaja Khalid Farooq.<\/p>\n
According to the Constitution of Pakistan, one cannot be a member of Parliament if he \u201cviolates Islamic injunctions,\u201d or has \u201cworked against the integrity of the country or opposed the ideology of Pakistan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amir, who had filed nomination papers for the NA-60 seat from Chakwal, confirmed that his papers had been rejected by the returning officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome local journalist raised objections on some of my columns, claiming they were against the ideology of Pakistan and Islam,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time in Pakistan that nomination papers have been rejected on the basis of journalistic writing. Not everyone writes weekly columns. I\u2019m among the few who do, I\u2019m not sure if this would be applicable to other candidates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regarding his future course of action, Amir said he would file an appeal against the decision tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Officials from the Election Commission of Pakistan were unavailable for comment until the filing of this report.<\/p>\n