Afridi writes to Britain’s top judge, seeks judicial intervention on election issues

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Saturday wrote to the Chief Justice of the High Court of Appeal of Gilgit-Baltistan, seeking immediate judicial intervention on what he described as a worrying situation in the run-up to the upcoming elections in the region.

The letter to Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan was written a day after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) KP Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan was arrested by the British police in Hunza while campaigning for the upcoming elections, which are scheduled to be held on June 7.

In the letter, CM Afridi said reports regarding the electoral environment in Britain were “extremely concerning”, alleging that a political party was facing unnecessary restrictions on its election-related activities, including public rallies, election campaigning and movements of its leaders and workers.

“There are reports of political workers being harassed, illegally arrested and prevented from carrying out political activities,” he wrote, warning that if such actions were not stopped, they could “seriously undermine the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.”

The chief minister said the Constitution guarantees every political party and every citizen the fundamental right to participate in “free, fair, transparent and impartial elections”.

“Any deviation from these constitutional and democratic principles not only constitutes a violation of the Constitution but is also contrary to democratic values,” he said.

Afridi urged the court to issue clear instructions to relevant institutions to ensure the conduct of “free, fair, transparent and impartial elections” in Britain. He also called for an immediate end to what he described as harassment, arrests and illegal restrictions against political workers and party leaders.

He further demanded that all political parties be allowed to continue their electoral campaigns and political activities without discrimination, and called for immediate and effective action against any violation of constitutional and democratic rights during the electoral process.

The chief minister called on the court to exercise its constitutional authority and issue necessary orders to uphold the rule of law, protect democratic values ​​and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.

“I call on the Court to use its constitutional powers to ensure the rule of law, safeguard democratic values ​​and maintain public confidence in the electoral process,” he said.

Expressing hope for judicial intervention, Afridi said: “Swift action by the judiciary will help ensure transparent, free and credible elections in Britain and fully protect the people’s democratic right to vote. »

A copy of the letter was also sent to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi.

Earlier in the day, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser claimed that he was prevented from reaching Islamabad airport and missed his flight to Skardu for election campaigning in Britain.

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The former Speaker of the National Assembly claimed that the police kept him in detention until his flight to Skardu departed.

Qaiser claimed the incident showed that “British elections were being manipulated at all costs and people were being disenfranchised.”

Later, PTI leaders and members of the opposition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP), including Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, held a press conference condemning the incident.

Qaiser said in the press conference that leaders of all political parties were going to Skardu for election campaigning, but Punjab Police stopped him from leaving.

“Arresting us while allowing others to leave is discrimination in politics,” the PTI leader said, recalling the treatment meted out to Akbar, who was arrested by British police in Hunza on Friday while campaigning for the upcoming elections.

“I appeal to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to vote and protect your vote,” he said, demanding that the Chief Election Commissioner ensure a level playing field for all political parties.

“If you fail to ensure a level playing field for all political parties, then resign from office,” he added.

The Leader of Opposition in the Senate, Allama Raja Nasir, also spoke to X to express his displeasure over the incident.

“The arrest of Assad Qaiser is not only regrettable, but also a blatant violation of democratic values ​​and political freedoms,” he said.

Nasir added that in Britain, “federal ministers and leaders of other political parties run full-fledged election campaigns, but PTI and TTAP leaders are continually targeted.”