Islamabad: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi appeared before the Election Commission regarding a case in which he allegedly threatened election staff during the NA-18 by-elections.
The hearing was presided over by a five-member bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The case pertains to violations of the code of conduct and intimidation of election officials by the KP Chief Minister.
Sohail Afridi was summoned in person by the Election Commission during the previous hearing, and he appeared today along with his lawyer Ali Bukhari.
During the proceedings, lawyer Ali Bukhari requested that two to three additional petitions related to NA-18 be consolidated with the main case. However, the Special Secretary (Law) responded that this matter should be considered separately.
The Special Secretary emphasized that the Election Commission has the authority to take action if its directives are not followed. According to the Law and the Constitution, the case should be handled on merit, and those responsible should provide their responses accordingly.
Furthermore, the Special Secretary cited the monitoring officer’s report, stating that the alleged actions amounted to a violation of the law and non-compliance with the Election Commission’s instructions.
This case highlights the accountability mechanisms in place for ensuring free and fair elections, as the Chief Minister of KP faces scrutiny for allegedly intimidating election personnel during the NA-18 by-election campaign.
