Munib Akhtar, J.: We have heard learned counsel for the petitioner as also the learned Additional DG (Law) and learned Legal Consultant and also learned counsel appearing for the private respondent.
2. For detailed reasons to be recorded later and subject to such amplification and/or explanation therein as may be deemed appropriate, these leave petitions are converted into appeals and allowed. The impugned judgments of the learned High Court are set aside with the result that the nomination papers of the petitioner, now appellant, for NA-99 (Faisalabad) are deemed accepted and his name is deemed included in the final list of candidates for the General Elections of 2024.
This candidate shall immediately and forthwith, and it shall be the duty of the Election Commission to ensure that this is done, be allocated an election symbol. (We may note that for this constituency the petitioner, now appellant, had filed two sets of nomination papers, both of which were dealt with in the same terms and the writ petitions filed in this regard in the High Court by the private respondent were allowed vide impugned judgments, which are identical in all material respects.)
3. The name of the candidate and his election symbol must appear on the ballot papers used in and for the general election to the constituency aforementioned and the said election for this constituency must be held on 08.02.2024, as scheduled.