PHC restrains ECP disqualification move against KP CM Gandapur

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday suspended ECP disqualification proceedings against KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, ARY News reported.

The court issued notices to the parties and summoned their reply.

A bench of the high court comprised of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Waqar Ahmed heard the petition.

Justice Ijaz Anwar said that the proceedings not yet started, only notice has been served.

Justice Waqar questioned, if the matter was already being heard by the election commission.

The court remarked that after the Supreme Court’s verdict, no institution has been authorized to declare someone ‘truthful’ and ‘trustworthy’.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last week accepted a plea seeking the disqualification of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for hearing.

The election watchdog also directed the chief minister to appear before the District Election Commissioner on March 26.

A two-member ECP bench issued a short order on the plea, maintaining that Ali Amin Gandapur did not submit his assets to the election commission.

In the plea, it was contended that Ali Amin Gandapur had got 735 kanals of land in Dera Ismail Khan transferred in his name unlawfully.

The disqualification plea read that the chief minister KP is not eligible to hold public office. “Ali Amin Gandapur should be disqualified and de-seated as a member of the KP Assembly for submitting a false statement,” the plea maintained.