LAHORE, FEB 17 (DNA) – An appellate tribunal on Saturday declared former finance minister Ishaq Dar and a sister of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasis eligible to take part in upcoming Senate election.

The embattled former minister on Thursday challenged the rejection of his Senate election nomination papers by a returning officer of Election Commission of Pakistan.

However, PTI leader Andleeb Abbas challenged Sadia Abbasi’s nomination for the Senate on a seat reserved for women.

The former minister, who is facing corruption case at an accountability court for allegedly possessing assets beyond known sources of income, filed an appeal against the decision at Lahore High Court’s appellate tribunal.

On Monday, the returning officer rejected Dar’s nomination papers, stating that the former minister has been declared absconder by an accountability court.

Ishaq Dar in his appeal said that the ECP rejected his nomination papers even though all the legal requirements were fulfilled. He asked the court to declared the returning officer’s decision null and void.

It is to mention that former finance minister has been declared absconder by an accountability court in Islamabad for not attending the hearings of the corruption trial against him. He has been living in London for medical treatment for months. He is facing charges of possessing assets beyond known sources of income.

As per the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) schedule, elections will be held on March 3.