PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – The Peshawar High Court on Friday barred the Election Commission from holding a by-election in NA-1 Chitral in response to a petition challenging the disqualification of former MNA Abdul Latif Chitrali.
Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal heard the petition. The court issued notices to the Attorney General of Pakistan and the Election Commission, directing that the NA-1 seat must not be filled until a decision is made on the petition.
During the hearing, petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Moazzam Butt, argued that Abdul Latif was elected as MNA from NA-1 Chitral but the National Assembly speaker sent a disqualification reference to the Election Commission without any notice, claiming that an anti-terrorism court had sentenced him to 10 years.
Advocate Butt further stated that the Election Commission disqualified the petitioner without proper hearing or legal process and declared the NA-1 seat vacant.
He added that the anti-terrorism court announced the sentence in Latif’s absence, and an appeal has already been filed against the conviction.
The court adjourned the hearing till August 20 and halted the by-election process in the meantime.