Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi has written a letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan, seeking immediate judicial intervention to ensure transparency in the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections.
A copy of the letter has also been sent to Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi.
In the letter, the chief minister expressed concern over the situation emerging ahead of the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and formally requested immediate judicial intervention.
He said reports regarding the electoral environment in Gilgit-Baltistan were highly concerning, as one political party was allegedly facing unnecessary obstacles in election activities, public gatherings, election campaigns, and the movement of party leadership and workers.
The chief minister also pointed to reports of harassment of political workers, illegal arrests and restrictions on political activities. He warned that if such actions were not stopped, they could seriously damage the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.
In his letter, Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi stated that the Constitution of Pakistan gives every political party and citizen the fundamental right to take part in free, fair, transparent and impartial elections. He said deviation from these constitutional and democratic principles would not only be a violation of the Constitution but also contrary to democratic values.
The chief minister requested the court to issue clear directions to the relevant institutions to ensure free, fair, transparent and impartial elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He also urged the court to immediately stop illegal harassment, arrests and restrictions against political workers and party leadership, ensure that all political parties are allowed without discrimination to continue their election campaigns and political activities, and order immediate and effective action against any violation of constitutional and democratic rights during the electoral process.
Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi appealed to the court to use its constitutional powers to issue necessary orders for upholding the rule of law, protecting democratic values and ensuring public trust in the electoral process.
He expressed the hope that timely intervention by the judiciary would ensure transparent, free and credible elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and fully protect the people’s democratic right to vote.
