- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Nov 21 (APP):Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, summoned by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over violations of the electoral code of conduct, did not appear before the Commission on Friday and was represented by his counsel instead.
Shehrnaz Omar Ayub also did not appear.
A four-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja granted Afridi exemption from personal appearance and adjourned the hearing without fixing a new date.
The case pertains to alleged threats issued by the Chief Minister to government employees.
Afridi’s counsel, Ali Bukhari, appeared before the Commission alongside the Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Bukhari informed the bench that the District Returning Officer (DRO) had also summoned Afridi at the same time, resulting in conflicting notices.
During the proceedings, a Commission member from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remarked that if the Chief Minister had failed to attend the ECP hearing, it was unlikely he would have appeared before the DRO either.
Bukhari strongly objected to the comment, terming it unfair.
He argued that he was lawfully representing the Chief Minister and urged the Chief Election Commissioner to guide members on the appropriateness of such remarks.
He further questioned whether Afridi could expect a fair hearing in light of the observation, adding that the Chief Minister was engaged in an official meeting at the time.