Pakistan’s PTI questions urgency of hearing on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief
Pakistan’s PTI party questioned the urgency of the Federal Constitutional Court’s hearing of National Assembly member Sher Afzal Marwat’s petition regarding the appointment of Sohail Afridi as chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Dawn reports.
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said scheduling the case for a hearing had raised concerns about the court’s impartiality and the role of courts in politically sensitive matters. He also asked why the petition had been scheduled for consideration at a time when the party is preparing for a protest march on September 27.
The party’s position
According to Akram, the petition carries little legal weight. He noted that former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur resigned voluntarily, PTI founder Imran Khan nominated Sohail Afridi for the post, and the provincial assembly elected him under the established constitutional procedure.
The party representative said cases without substantial constitutional or legal issues should not be heard unnecessarily, as this could consume court time and potentially undermine public confidence in the judicial system. He also stressed that the mandate of elected constitutional institutions must be respected in accordance with the law.
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Statements regarding Imran Khan’s cases
Akram urged the courts to hear bail petitions filed by PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. According to him, these petitions have been pending for more than 22 months in the Al-Qadir case and nine months in the Toshakhana case.
He also expressed concern about Imran Khan’s health and called for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order of August 18. According to Akram, the order provided for Khan’s transfer to Shifa International hospital for an independent medical examination and treatment in the presence of his sister, Dr Uzma Khan, and his personal physician Faisal Sultan. He called for action against those responsible for failing to implement the order.
In addition, Akram said PTI is consulting opposition forces and preparing a multiparty conference on political, constitutional, security and economic challenges. According to him, the party opposes the rushed or unilateral creation of new administrative units without consultations, adherence to constitutional procedures and the participation of provincial assemblies.
