Code of conduct violation in by-poll: KP CM, Shehar Naz challenge maintainability of case

ISLAMABAD: KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Shehar Naz Omar Ayub Khan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidate for the recently held by-election on the National Assembly’s seat NA-18 Haripur, have challenged the maintainability of case against them over code of conduct violation in the said by-election.

During the case proceedings on Wednesday, defence lawyer Ali Bukhari submitted the written reply on behalf of the respondent side, challenging the maintainability of this case.

The five-member full ECP bench was of the view that the application challenging the maintainability of the case was not signed by the KP chief minister.

The bench directed the defence counsel to resubmit the signed application, as well as KP chief minister’s power of attorney in the next hearing.

The case was adjourned till 13th January 2016.

Shehar Naz Omar Ayub is the wife of former NA opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan.

The NA-18 seat had fallen vacant following Omar’s disqualification at the hands of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in a case registered in connection with the May 09 riots.

The case hearing was rescheduled to 24th December from 16th December due to the unavailability of the ECP bench.

Before that, the case hearing of 4th December was rescheduled to 10th December due to the bench’s unavailability.

The 10th December hearing was postponed after the ECP bench was informed during the hearing that the father-in-law of the defence counsel in the case had passed away.

On 20th November, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took notice of KP chief minister’s public speech in Havelian, a tehsil of district Abbottabad, delivered a day earlier on 19th November.

The poll entity accused CM Afridi of threatening the district administration, police, and electoral officials assigned to hold the NA-18 by-election, which was held on 23rd November, in the said speech.

During the hearing of this case on 25th November, the ECP bench granted the KP chief minister exemption from physical appearance for the remaining hearings.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025