PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch an investigation into alleged electoral mismanagement during the 2024 general elections in several provincial assembly constituencies, including PK-79 and PK-82.
This could result in yet another tussle between Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and provincial government.
According to officials, all relevant parties, particularly the elected members under Form 45, have been urged to contact the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) if they possess any evidence or information regarding irregularities.
Advisor to the Chief Minister on Anti-Corruption, Brigadier (retd) Musaddiq Abbasi, stated that following a recent court ruling, the results from constituencies where complaints were filed will be thoroughly examined. Candidates who have reservations about the election results have been advised to formally submit their complaints to the anti-corruption department.
Earlier, PTI leaders Taimur Jhagra (PK-79) and Kamran Bangash (PK-82) had lodged multiple complaints with the Anti-Corruption Department alleging election mismanagement. Acting on these complaints, the department initiated proceedings against the presiding and returning officers concerned. However, members of the election staff challenged the inquiry in the Peshawar High Court, claiming that the anti-corruption probe was unlawful.
In a video statement, Brig (retd) Abbasi clarified that while the court had issued an interim order earlier, the formal written verdict received on October 3 (Friday) explicitly allows the Anti-Corruption Establishment to continue its investigation in accordance with the law.
Following the court’s decision, the department has resolved to expand the scope of investigations into alleged irregularities not only in PK-79 and PK-82 but also in other constituencies across the province. Abbasi urged all concerned parties, especially elected assembly members, to submit written evidence or complaints to the department, emphasizing that legal action can only proceed upon receiving formal written submissions.
According to sources, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expressed reservations about the results in 13 provincial constituencies, including eight in Peshawar, two in Bannu, and two in Shangla.
It may be recalled that last month, a dispute erupted between the ECP and the K-P government over investigations into alleged rigging in provincial constituencies PK-79 and PK-82.
The controversy began after the provincial Anti-Corruption Department launched an inquiry on the complaints of former provincial minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra from PK-79 and PTI leader Kamran Bangash from PK-82. The ECP, however, has termed the inquiry a violation of Article 225 of the Constitution and Section 139 of the Elections Act, 2017, calling it interference in the Commission’s mandate.
In a letter addressed to the K-P Chief Secretary, the ECP stated that summoning election staff by the Anti-Corruption Department was unconstitutional. It maintained that all election-related disputes are the sole jurisdiction of election tribunals, and Jhagra’s petition is already pending before the tribunal.
