Overview
- At a Nov 21 hearing, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi skipped personal appearance, received an exemption through counsel, and the Election Commission adjourned proceedings without a new date.
- The ECP has formally asked the Defence and Interior secretaries to deploy the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces for the Nov 23 NA-18 vote, while directing KP officials to ensure foolproof security for polling staff and voters.
- The watchdog alleges Afridi used threatening and provocative language toward district administration, police and election staff at a Havelian-area rally, noting a proclaimed offender was on stage and that the offender’s wife, Shehrnaz, is the PTI candidate.
- Afridi has petitioned the Peshawar High Court to void the notice, arguing his remarks were misrepresented, he did not campaign in Haripur, and the ECP acted without a required district monitoring officer report.
- The commission also issued a separate notice to Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry over alleged code violations, as Afridi pressed Punjab over alleged mistreatment of Imran Khan’s sisters and demanded enforcement of court-ordered jail visitation.