Quetta constituency winner declared ‘foreign national’ during probe

QUETTA: A candidate belonging to Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) who emerged victorious from PB-26, Quetta, in the July 25 elections has been declared foreign national during probe of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding dual nationality.

According to details, Ahmed Ali Kohzad had won the elections on HDP ticket from PB-26. The candidate was investigated by the FIA and National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) over his purported dual nationality.

Kohzad had received 5,117 votes against Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s Wali Muhammad who had secured 3,242 votes in the general elections.

After the probe, Nadra submitted its report to the FIA and it was then forwarded to the Election Commission of Pakistan, declaring the candidate as foreign national.

The ECP will now further proceed against Kohzad under the law.

In August this year, Deputy Commissioner Quetta had also declared Ahmed Ali Kohzad as non-Pakistani and sent a report to relevant authorities.

Kohzad’s Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) was blocked by Nadra before elections because he was under a shadow of being Afghan refugee.

However, the Balochistan High Court had allowed him to contest elections, while hearing a petition in this regard.

A committee was also formed to investigate the issue and it later confirmed in the report that Ahmed Ali Kohzad was dual national. The DC had stated that Kohzad couldn’t prove his Pakistani nationality and had submitted no evidence during the probe.