ECP summons KP chief minister in threat, code violation case

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in a case involving alleged threats to election staff and violations of the election code of conduct during the recent by-elections.

A five-member bench of the commission, headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, conducted hearings on multiple complaints linked to violations of election rules and campaign conduct across different constituencies.

Chief Minister Afridi was summoned to appear in person, while a notice was also issued to Shehrnaz Omar Ayub, wife of former opposition leader Omar Ayub. Although Afridi was granted exemption from personal appearance, his legal counsel appeared before the commission. Lawyers representing Shehrnaz Omar Ayub also attended the proceedings.

During the hearing, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel sought an adjournment on behalf of Afridi’s lawyer, Ali Bukhari, citing a death in the family. However, a KP member of the commission questioned the appearance of the advocate general in a personal case, stating that the matter had no connection with the provincial government. In response, the advocate general clarified that he was merely seeking adjournment on behalf of the private counsel.

The Chief Election Commissioner remarked that the advocate general was required in the province, while another KP member pointed out that the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court had repeatedly noted the continued absence of the advocate general from provincial duties.

Meanwhile, Shehrnaz Omar Ayub’s lawyer submitted a written reply in a separate case related to alleged irregularities in NA-18. She has accused election authorities of not providing Form 47 and has raised allegations of rigging. After the submission, the commission adjourned the hearing until December 16.

In another matter, former federal minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi appeared before the commission along with his lawyer to challenge the Rs40,000 fine imposed by the District Monitoring Officer for violating the code of conduct. His counsel requested cancellation of the penalty, arguing that Abbasi had only quoted the alleged threatening statement made by the KP chief minister. The commission reserved its decision on the appeal.

Separately, independent candidate Iqbal Khan Patafi appeared in person before the commission seeking a recount of votes in the PP-269 Muzaffargarh by-election, where he secured 46,407 votes. He lost the contest to PPP candidate Mian Alamdar Abbas Qureshi. Patafi alleged that relatives of his opponent were assigned election duties, untrained staff were deployed and the number of ballot papers sent to polling stations was fewer than the registered voters.

Speaking to reporters outside the Election Commission, Patafi said that PP-269 had remained controversial in the past as well, claiming that previous winners had resigned following recount requests. The five-member bench adjourned the hearing until December 16.

The Election Commission also heard an appeal filed by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Culture Huzaifa Rehman against the Rs50,000 fine imposed on him for violating the code of conduct in NA-185 Muzaffargarh. His lawyer appeared on his behalf, with the case also deferred to December 16.