Zulfiqar Ahmad
ISLAMABAD, July 29 — The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday disqualified PTI MNA Abdul Latif from Chitral, escalating the ongoing crackdown on lawmakers linked to the May 9 violence.
The ECP invoked Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution after consolidating several cases involving Latif’s alleged role in last year’s unrest. The commission stated that Latif, elected from NA-1 Chitral Upper-cum-Lower, no longer holds a seat in the National Assembly. “Consequently, the seat has become vacant,” it announced.
When contacted on phone, Latif told ChitralToday that he has challenged the decision in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and expects the court to overturn it.
“The disqualification under the pretext of the so-called May 9 ‘false flag’ operation is a farce,” he said, calling the ECP decision and trial court verdicts “one-sided.”
Latif reaffirmed his allegiance to former prime minister Imran Khan and vowed to continue PTI’s political struggle. “No matter how many times they disqualify me, I will remain loyal to Imran Khan. The puppet regime of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and its handlers will be defeated,” he declared.
Following the disqualification, political activity has surged in Chitral as major parties prepare for a by-election.
Senator Talha Mehmood is reportedly lobbying the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to award his son the party ticket. However, party insiders say local leadership strongly opposes the move.
A senior PPP leader from Chitral, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the party prefers a local candidate. The names under consideration include former MPA Syed Sardar Hussain Shah, Fazle Rabi (who lost to Abdul Latif in the 2024 election), former provincial minister Salim Khan, and Siraj Ali Khan Advocate, who finished third in the last provincial race on a PPP ticket.
Sardar Hussain and Siraj Ali Khan come from Upper Chitral, while Salim Khan and Fazle Rabi belong to Lower Chitral. All four enjoy significant influence in their respective areas.
PPP insiders warned that nominating Talha Mehmood’s son could hurt the party’s reputation in the district. “The people of Chitral are politically aware. They will firmly resist any attempt to impose an outsider,” a party official said, calling such a move “an infringement on the district’s rights.”
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has increased its presence in Chitral, hoping to capitalize on its role in reviving key infrastructure projects, including the Chitral-Booni and Booni-Shandur roads.
Abdul Wali Khan Advocate, a close aide to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the government’s focal person in Chitral, has played a key role in restarting the long-delayed roadwork. He is seen as a strong contender for the party ticket.
However, speaking to ChitralToday, Abdul Wali said he has no information about the ticket decision. He added that contesting the by-election would require at least Rs150 million, a sum he does not currently have.
Religious parties, particularly Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), are also exploring a possible electoral alliance, though discussions remain inconclusive for now.