Zulfiqar Ahmad | ISLAMABAD
Just as political players in Chitral were gearing up for what promised to be a high-stakes by-election, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday stalled the process — issuing a restraining order that effectively froze the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plans to fill the suddenly vacated NA-1 Chitral seat.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Arshad Ali termed the ECP’s actions “procedurally hazardous,” ruling that proceeding with the by-election while Abdul Latif’s appeal remains pending before the Supreme Court would be premature and legally unsound.
Latif, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker recently disqualified by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), has found himself at the center of political and legal turbulence. The constituency quickly turned into a political flashpoint following his disqualification, triggering preparations by several parties for a fiercely contested by-poll.
While the PHC’s ruling is interim, it has temporarily staved off what many observers feared could become an aggressive, money-fueled campaign driven more by political opportunism than genuine democratic engagement.
The bench warned against compromising due process in Chitral — a district known for its politically engaged electorate — and cautioned that any such action could erode public confidence in democratic institutions.
Among those poised to contest was Senator Talha Mehmood of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), a heavyweight with significant financial clout. His increased visibility in Chitral had already sparked concerns of pre-poll manipulation and the use of political patronage to tilt the electoral playing field.
In an interview with ChitralToday, Abdul Latif dismissed the case against him as “fabricated,” noting that four co-accused had already been acquitted by the Islamabad High Court. Echoing PTI founder Imran Khan, Latif vowed to “fight to the last,” hailing the PHC ruling as a “victory for justice.” He voiced confidence that the Supreme Court would overturn what he described as a legally baseless ATC verdict.
The ECP has not issued a formal response to the PHC order, but internal sources admitted the ruling has stalled what many feared could become a rushed and politically charged contest.
For now, the future of NA-1 Chitral hangs in the balance — its fate resting with the Supreme Court’s final word, and raising deeper questions about the fragility of electoral justice amid Pakistan’s volatile political landscape.