ECP Reserves Ruling in Case Accusing KP CM Afridi of Threatening Election Staff

Overview

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi appeared before a five-member ECP bench over allegations he issued threatening remarks at an Abbottabad rally during the NA-18 Haripur by-election campaign.
• Election officials have argued the remarks risked the safety of polling staff, police and voters and could breach rules that bar public officeholders from influencing elections.
• Afridi’s counsel challenged the commission’s jurisdiction, pointing to a DMO notice in the constituency and raising claims of selective enforcement based on other leaders’ pre-poll speeches.
• Petitioner Babar Nawaz alleges Afridi sought to pressure the administration, while the ECP’s Special Secretary Law cited a monitoring officer’s report indicating non-compliance with instructions.
• Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja pledged action without discrimination as the ECP reserved its decision on maintainability, excused Afridi from the next appearance, and set the next hearing for December 4.