The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday suspended the notice issued the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) summoning Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The ECP on Monday had summoned KP CM Gandapur to appear before the Commission on Tuesday (today) to clarify discrepancies found in his declaration of assets and liabilities submitted for the general elections of 2024.

The ECP had instructed CM Gandapur to personally appear on Tuesday and provide clarification regarding his assets.

In response, CM Gandapur moved the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to challenge the issuance of the ECP notice. He filed the writ petition through his lawyer Syed Sikandar Hayat Shah Advocate. The ECP was made a respondent in the petition.

The petition said Ali Amin Gandapur contested the last general election from provincial assembly constituency PK-113 and was elected Member Provincial Assembly and he was now serving as the chief minister of the province. It said the ECP had issued him a notice about his assets.

His lawyer said his client had submitted all the details about his assets along with the nomination papers at the time of contesting the election. He said the chief minister had declared his assets in the nomination papers, adding all the details were thoroughly checked by the returning officer and he was allowed to contest the election. The lawyer said the election had already taken place and Ali Amin Gandapur had been elected and was now serving as the chief minister.

Questioning the issuance of the notice, the lawyer said the ECP was not authorized to issue the notice, adding the action was based on mala fide intention. He said if somebody had any grievance against his client, he could move the election tribunal.

The lawyer said the ECP had summoned the chief minister, which was against its mandate under the rules. He said the ECP was supposed to conduct the election and not harass the elected public representatives.

Taking up Gandapur’s plea on Tuesday, a two-judge PHC bench comprising Justice SM Atiq Shah and Justice Shakil Ahmad suspended the ECP’s summons and issued a notice to the Commission seeking a reply from it.

Reporter Amir Shahzad