Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has formally challenged a notice from the Election Commission of Pakistan in the Peshawar High Court. The ECP notice alleged that the chief minister violated the election code of conduct ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Haripur.
The petition, filed through Advocate Bashir Wazir, names the ECP, provincial election authorities, and contesting candidates as respondents. In his filing, the chief minister contended that the notice is based on a politically motivated and misrepresented statement. This creates the false impression that he attempted to influence the election process.
The petition asserts that Chief Minister Afridi was performing his constitutional duties by visiting various areas. He was announcing development projects in the public interest and addressing public concerns. It specifically notes that a recent tour was to the Hazara Division, including Abbottabad, and was incorrectly linked to Haripur.
Read: KP CM Sohail Afridi Petitions SC for Meeting with Imran Khan
A key legal argument presented is that the ECP issued its notice without first receiving a mandatory report from the District Monitoring Officer. The petition states that neither the monitoring officer submitted a report nor did any candidate file a formal complaint. It alleges the notice demonstrates “malicious intent.” Furthermore, it targets a specific political party. The chief minister has requested the court to declare the ECP notice null and void.
The legal challenge follows a hearing by a four-member ECP bench, headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, on alleged violations of the code of conduct. While CM Afridi and an opposition candidate did not appear personally, their legal representatives attended the session.
The ECP secretary argued during the hearing that the chief minister “addressed rallies in Chamba and Haveliyan, which are at the border of the constituency.” They also alleged that he “intimidated election staff.” The commission maintained that public office holders are prohibited from participating in election campaigns under the code of conduct.
.Ali Bukhari, defense counsel to Chief Minister Afridi, contested the justification for the notices and asserted that the chief minister addressed a gathering in Abbottabad, not Haripur. Bukhari challenged the consistency of the process, questioning why authorities failed to take similar action when the Punjab chief minister allocated Rs. 3 billion for a hospital in a constituency near Haripur.
