ISLAMABAD/ PESHAWAR: Taking notice of what it called his “reckless and irresponsible” behaviour, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and contesting candidate Ms Sehar Naz today (Friday).
Notices have been issued to both, and a hearing has been fixed at the ECP Secretariat for 12 noon.
A day earlier, while speaking at an election rally in Havelian (Haripur), the chief minister had spoken strongly about the administration, police and election staff, warning them of ‘consequences’ in case of any ‘disturbance’. A by-election is due in this constituency on 23 November.
An ECP spokesperson stated that the electoral body had taken notice of Sohail Afridi’s statement during his address at the Havelian rally, in which he threatened the district administration, police, and election staff and incited the public. The spokesperson noted that a fugitive criminal (Omar Ayub) was also standing with him, whose wife (Sehar Naz) is participating in the election.
Due to this irresponsible and reckless behaviour by the province’s chief executive, holding a peaceful by-election in NA-18 Haripur has become difficult, and the lives of the district administration, police, election staff and voters have been put at risk.
Given the sensitivity of the situation, the commission ordered the KP’s provincial election commissioner to immediately hold a meeting with the chief secretary and Inspector General (IG) and submit a report after taking necessary security measures. Considering the seriousness of the matter, a letter has also been dispatched to the Interior Secretary to arrange foolproof security in the constituency with the help of federal security agencies, including the civil armed forces and Pakistan Army, to ensure the safety of district returning officer, returning officer, other election officials, voters and the public.
The letter emphasized that the movement of presiding officers to polling stations and the returning officer’s office after the election, as well as the transport of election materials, must be protected. The commission also decided that if any individual, personality or public office holder attempts to interfere with or disrupt the peaceful conduct of the by-elections, strict legal action will be taken against them.
Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister clarified his statement regarding the NA-18 by-election, which had prompted the Election Commission of Pakistan to request the deployment of army.
Speaking to journalists outside the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, the CM said his remarks during a political gathering in Chamba on Wednesday had been “taken out of context”. “I was not campaigning for anybody. I said yesterday that there should be no rigging,” he added.
In a related development, the issue was brought to the attention of the KP chief secretary during a meeting at the office of the provincial Election Commissioner in Peshawar. The Election Commission made it clear that the safety of polling staff must be ensured at all costs, and no one would be allowed to influence the election process.
Subsequently, a high-level meeting regarding security in NA-18 was chaired by the Provincial Election Commissioner. Attendees included Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, IG Police Zulfiqar Hameed, Secretary Home Muhammad Zubair, Commissioner Hazara Division Fayyaz Ali, the Regional Police Officer and the Regional Election Commissioner of Hazara Division. A total of 754,000 voters will exercise their right to vote, including 392,415 male and 361,705 female voters. A total of 602 polling stations and 1,906 polling booths have been established, with 402 polling stations declared sensitive and 42 highly sensitive.
Similarly, instructions have been issued to the Punjab Provincial Election Commissioner that if any official of the federal or provincial government violates the code of conduct or attempts to influence the by-elections, strictest action should be taken according to the Constitution and law. It is understood that these instructions relate to by-elections in certain National and Provincial Assembly constituencies on November 23.
