Zar Alam Khan
The disqualification of MNA Abdul Latif is not just a political development; it is a direct insult to the democratic will of the people of Chitral.
Elected with a resounding mandate in the 2024 general elections, Latif was removed by the Election Commission following his conviction by a court in Islamabad, while his appeal is still pending before the high court.
Whether the decision was legally justified or not, the political context of the ECP’s action cannot be ignored. As a staunch PTI activist and a loyal supporter of the party’s incarcerated founder Imran Khan, Latif was among the few National Assembly members who consistently challenged the legitimacy of the ruling coalition. His disqualification appears to be part of a broader pattern where legal instruments are increasingly used to sideline opposition figures rather than uphold justice.
However, what is perhaps even more disheartening than the act itself is the reaction it has provoked, or rather the lack of an honest one, from the political leadership in Chitral. While several leaders have issued routine statements of condemnation, their words ring hollow. Behind closed doors, a different picture emerges: many are quietly welcoming Latif’s disqualification, seeing in it an opportunity to contest the by-election and advance their own political ambitions.
Sources tell ChitralToday that many PTI aspirants both in Chitral Lower and Upper have started using their connections to get party ticket for the by-election.
This silent celebration of Latif’s fall reveals a deeply troubling trend. It shows that for some, personal gain outweighs democratic principle. It exposes the shallow nature of political solidarity in our region, where allegiance is often a matter of convenience, not conviction. These actors may succeed in the short term. Some may find themselves contesting, or even winning, the by-election. But they should not be under any illusion: their silence, or worse, their complicity, will not go unnoticed by the public. The people of Chitral understand that when an elected representative is removed not by the people but through selective legal application, it is not just one politician who is targeted rather, it is the voice of the electorate that is suppressed.
We should stand for democratic integrity, transparent institutions, and the sanctity of the ballot irrespective of our political affiliations and preferences. Abdul Latif’s disqualification raises serious questions not only about judicial fairness but also about the ethical collapse among those who seek to benefit from it. This moment calls for moral clarity, not political opportunism. For once, local political actors must rise above personal ambition and recognize the wider damage being done to democracy and public trust. By staying silent, or worse, by maneuvering in the shadows, they risk aligning themselves with undemocratic forces rather than standing with the people they claim to represent.
Let it be remembered: democratic decay does not only happen through brute force. Sometimes, it happens quietly – through opportunism, silence and self-interest.