KP CM Afridi skips ECP Hearing, interim order expected

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi did not appear before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday during the hearing of a notice issued to election officials regarding alleged threats, following which the Chief Election Commissioner announced that an interim order would be issued later.

According to a private news channel, a four-member bench headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) heard the matter at the ECP headquarters in Islamabad, where security was tightened with the deployment of Islamabad Police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC).

Although CM Afridi and candidate Shahrnaz Bano Omar Ayub did not attend the proceedings, CM Afridi’s lawyer Ali Bukhari and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Advocate General were present.

The CEC stressed that Afridi was summoned personally, while Bukhari argued that the exemption application was filed because the CM was attending a meeting.

On this, the Chief Election Commissioner said that an interim order will be issued today, which will clarify all matters including the date of the next hearing.

Responding to the ECP notices, Chief Minister Afridi’s lawyer said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had also announced a development project in Hassan Abdal, so she should also face similar action.

The Chief Election Commissioner replied that the commission had already issued a notice to a federal minister on the previous day for violating the election code of conduct, in which stronger language was used than the notice sent to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

During the hearing, the ECP secretary said that public office holders have been barred from participating in the election campaign and from intimidating or inciting.

He said that Afridi threatened election officials during a rally in Havelian, and candidate Shahnaz Umar Ayub is also equally responsible.

The Chief Election Commissioner adjourned the hearing, blocking the arguments of the PML-N candidate’s lawyer.

Experts noted that the Election Commission exercises judicial powers rather than mere administrative powers, meaning those summoned are bound to appear.

They added that the ECP has already requested the deployment of the army in the constituency where Afridi delivered the questioning speech.

In Haripur’s NA-18 constituency, 402 polling stations have been declared sensitive and 42 highly sensitive.