PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Saturday wrote to the chief justice of the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan, seeking immediate judicial intervention over what he described as a concerning situation ahead of the upcoming elections in the region.
The letter to Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan was written a day after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) K-P President Junaid Akbar Khan was arrested by the G-B Police in Hunza while campaigning for the upcoming elections, which are scheduled to be held on June 7.
In the letter, CM Afridi said reports regarding the electoral environment in G-B were “extremely concerning”, alleging that a political party was facing unnecessary restrictions on its election-related activities, including public gatherings, election campaigning and the movement of its leadership and workers.
“There are reports of political workers being harassed, unlawfully arrested and prevented from carrying out political activities,” he wrote, warning that if such actions were not stopped, they could “seriously undermine the credibility and transparency of the electoral process”.
The chief minister said the Constitution guaranteed every political party and citizen the fundamental right to participate in “free, fair, transparent and impartial elections”.
“Any deviation from these constitutional and democratic principles is not only a violation of the Constitution but is also contrary to democratic values,” he said.
Afridi urged the court to issue clear directions to the relevant institutions to ensure the conduct of “free, fair, transparent and impartial elections” in G-B. He also called for an immediate end to what he described as unlawful harassment, arrests and restrictions against political workers and party leaders.
He further requested that all political parties be allowed to continue their election campaigns and political activities without discrimination, and called for immediate and effective action against any violations of constitutional and democratic rights during the electoral process.
The chief minister appealed to the court to exercise its constitutional authority and issue necessary orders to uphold the rule of law, protect democratic values and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.
“I request the court to use its constitutional powers to ensure the rule of law, safeguard democratic values and uphold public trust in the electoral process,” he said.
Expressing hope for judicial intervention, Afridi said, “Timely action by the judiciary will help ensure transparent, free and credible elections in G-B and fully protect the democratic right of the people to vote.”
A copy of the letter was also sent to Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.
Earlier in the day, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser claimed that he was prevented from reaching Islamabad Airport and missed his flight to Skardu for the election campaign in G-B.
In a post on X, Qaiser said: “Punjab Police did not allow entry into Islamabad Airport, blocked the airport’s access routes, and we, along with the general public, had to face severe difficulties.”
The former National Assembly speaker alleged that police kept him in custody until his flight to Skardu had departed.
Qaiser claimed that the incident showed that “the G-B election is being manipulated at all costs, and the people are being deprived of their right to vote”.
Later, PTI leaders and members of the opposition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP), including Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, held a press conference condemning the incident.
Qaiser told the press conference that leaders of all political parties were travelling to Skardu for election campaigning, but Punjab Police had prevented him from departing.
“Stopping us while allowing others to go is discrimination in politics,” the PTI leader said, recalling the treatment meted out to Akbar, who was arrested by G-B police in Hunza on Friday while campaigning for the upcoming elections.
“I appeal to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan that you must cast your vote and also protect your vote,” he said, demanding that the chief election commissioner ensure a level playing field for all political parties.
“If you cannot provide a level playing field to all political parties, then resign from your office,” he added.
Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir also took to X to express his displeasure over the incident.
“Stopping Asad Qaiser is not only regrettable but a blatant violation of democratic values and political freedoms,” he said.
Nasir added that in G-B, “federal ministers and leaders of other political parties are conducting full-fledged election campaigns, yet leaders of PTI and TTAP are being continuously targeted.”
