Code of conduct violation case: KP CM questions legality of proceedings

ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi has questioned the legality of proceedings against him in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), in a case over alleged code of conduct violation, against the backdrop of a stay order issued by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) restricting the electoral entity from taking any action in this case.

A five-member full bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case against the CM KP on Wednesday over alleged code of conduct violation related to by-election on the National Assembly’s seat NA-18 Haripur that was held on 23 November, last year.

During the proceedings, CM KP’s counsel Advocate Ali Bukhari said the ECP bench could not record evidence or issue any order in this case keeping in view the stay order issued by the PHC that bars the ECP from proceeding further in this case.

The defence lawyer demanded that the case hearing be adjourned considering that the matter was pending in the PHC.

After hearing the defence counsel’s arguments, the bench adjourned this case till 17 February.

On 20 November, last year, the ECP took notice of CM KP’s public speech in Havelian, a tehsil of district Abbottabad, delivered a day earlier on 19 November.

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

The electoral body then fixed this case for regular hearing, and the matter is since pending.

Babar Nawaz Khan from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), the returned candidate for NA-18, is also the petitioner against Afridi in the same case. He is represented by Advocate Sajeel Swati.

On 27 January, the proceedings of this case were adjourned indefinitely by the ECP after CM KP’s counsel informed the ECP bench that PHC issued a stay order barring the ECP from proceeding further in this case.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026