PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday appeared before the Election Commission of Pakistan in an alleged case of violation of code of conduct and intimidation of police and polling staff.
A five-member full bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case against Sohail Afridi who, unlike the previous initial hearing, was present along with his lawyer Ali Bokhari.
The CM’s lawyer, Ali Bokhari, requested clubbing of two or three other NA-18 Haripur petitions and sought action against the Punjab chief minister for announcing projects in adjoining Hassan Abdal. The CEC directed a separate application for the Punjab issue, but Bokhari insisted it be taken up together.
Bokhari further argued that the ECP lacked jurisdiction while the Special Secretary Law urged that the CM’s case be heard separately.
Referring to the alleged intimidation of election staff during the public meeting, the petitioner, PMLN’s Babar Nawaz’s lawyer, demanded criminal action against the chief minister.
Ali Bokhari argued against the Election Commission’s jurisdiction in the case and also sought to know if the issue would be contested in the court of DRO Haripur also. The CEC pointed out to him that the EC has taken notice of this matter.
Bokhari argued the case’s admissibility should first be decided, noting Talal Chaudhry had skipped hearings while the KP CM appeared. The CEC replied any speech influencing the constituency would face trial. Talal’s brother’s victory notification was withheld and his hearing was set for 02 December. “We will decide after arguments,” the CEC said. The ECP then exempted the KP chief minister from the next appearance and adjourned the case until 04 December.
Speaking to the media outside the Election Commission, KP CM Sohail Afridi insisted he had done nothing wrong and would file a formal reply. He said his candidates had complained of federal security inside the RO office and that the returning officer was also from the federal government. “I only warned of legal action if rigging occurs and have tasked Salman Akram Raja with investigating it,” he added. Afridi pointed out that the presiding officer belonged to the KP government and had issued Form 45, reiterated respect for all institutions, and said his government works strictly within the Constitution and law.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) reserved judgment on a petition filed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Khan Afridi against a summon issued to him by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The bench also heard a petition by Sehrnaz Ayub, wife of Omar Ayub Khan and NA-18 by-election candidate. Her counsel argued that the ECP’s “unlawful” notice dated 20 November was baseless, as she neither attended the public gathering nor was invited by the chief minister.
