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LHC admits petition against Nawaz, Shahbaz

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has admitted for hearing a petition seeking ban on deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif from contesting future elections.

The court is expected to begin regular hearing of the petition from Monday.

The petitioner, private lawyer Allah Bukhsh, contended that under Article 62 of the Constitution, persons that are corrupt, dishonest or defaulter of banks cannot contest elections.

He also contended that Nawaz Sharif while addressing the nation had confessed that he and his family were loan defaulters and announced to surrender his and his family's assets to redeem the loans.

Bukhsh said Sharif's speech as prime minister was telecast live by the electronic media and reproduced by the print media in May 1998.

He sought court orders to direct the Election Commission to immediately disqualify both the Sharif brothers in light of the relevant rules and ban them from contesting future elections.-Internews