By: Sheraz Ahmad Sherazi
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for NA-18 Babar Nawaz by-elections has filed a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday seeking the disqualification of the Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi and PTI-backed candidate Shehr Naz Omar Ayub.
According to sources, the PML-N candidate Babar Nawaz, who is a strong opponent of the PTI-backed candidate Shehr Naz Omar Ayub in the NA-18 by-elections in Haripur, filed the petition with the ECP on Friday.
He stated in the application that CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi used provocative language against the administration, the election commission officers, and the police officers.
The PML-N candidate claimed that his opponent candidate Shehr Naz Omar Ayub, also violated the election act, hence he sought her disqualification from the contest of elections.
“Sohail Afridi’s speech is provocative against the administration, police and Election Commission officers. The Election Commission monitoring team has also confirmed the speech,” The applicant said in his request.
He mentioned that the KP Chief Minister’s speech created a threat to the security of election staff and voters; therefore, the ECP should take action against Sohail Afridi under Sections 167, 170, and 175.
PML-N candidate also claimed that the election environment has become unsafe and non-transparent due to the CM speech.
He demanded that the ECP prevent all government officials, including the Chief Minister should be prevented from election activities, and ECP should ensure a transparent election environment.
Read also: ECP summons KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi over Havelian speech
