ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued the victory notification of Bilal Chaudhry, the returned candidate from NA-96 Faisalabad, after he and his brother, State Minister Talal Chaudhry, apologised for their absence from the first hearing of an alleged election code violation case.
Bilal had won the seat in the recent by-elections, but the ECP withheld his notification until both brothers appeared before the Commission’s bench and tendered a personal apology.
On December 2, the ECP’s five-member full bench took up the case as scheduled. Talal and Bilal appeared in person and offered an unconditional apology, which the bench accepted, directing the issuance of Bilal’s notification.
Later, the Commission released a one-page order authored by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. It stated: “…Today, the matter is fixed for the personal appearance of the respondents… Mr. Talal Chaudhry and Mr. Bilal Chaudhry appeared in person and tendered an apology to the Commission for their absence on the previous date of hearing… Replies along with power of attorneys are submitted by the respondents which have been taken on record.”
The order further noted that, with their appearance and replies on file, the respondents were exempted from further personal attendance. “Office is directed to issue the notification of the returned candidate, which had been withheld on the previous date of hearing. The matter is adjourned for arguments on 18th December, 2025,” it concluded.
