Afridi writes to UK top judge, seeks judicial intervention over election concerns

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Saturday wrote to the chief justice of the Gilgit-Baltistan High Court of Appeal, seeking immediate judicial intervention over what he described as a worrying situation ahead of the upcoming elections in the region.

The letter to Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan was written a day after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) KP Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan was arrested by Britain’s police in Hunza while campaigning for the upcoming elections, which will be held on June 7.

In the letter, CM Afridi said reports on the electoral environment in Britain were “extremely worrying”, alleging that a political party was facing unnecessary restrictions on its election-related activities, including public meetings, election campaigns and the movement of its leaders and workers.

“There are reports of political workers who have been harassed, illegally arrested and prevented from carrying out political activities,” he wrote, warning that if such actions were not stopped, they could “seriously undermine the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.”

The prime minister said the Constitution guarantees all political parties and citizens the fundamental right to participate in “free, fair, transparent and impartial elections.”

“Any deviation from these constitutional and democratic principles is not only a violation of the Constitution but also contrary to democratic values,” he stated.

Afridi urged the court to give clear instructions to relevant institutions to ensure the holding of “free, fair, transparent and impartial elections” in Britain. He also called for an immediate end to what he described as illegal harassment, arrests and restrictions against political workers and party leaders.

It further requested that all political parties be allowed to continue their electoral campaigns and political activities without discrimination, and called for immediate and effective measures against any violation of constitutional and democratic rights during the electoral process.

The Prime Minister appealed to the court to exercise its constitutional authority and issue necessary orders to uphold the rule of law, protect democratic values ​​and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.

“I ask the court to use its constitutional powers to ensure the rule of law, safeguard democratic values ​​and uphold public confidence in the electoral process,” he said.

Afridi expressed hope for judicial intervention, saying: “Timely action by the judiciary will help ensure transparent, free and credible elections in Britain and fully protect the people’s democratic right to vote.”

A copy of the letter was also sent to Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.

Earlier in the day, PTI leader Asad Qaiser claimed that he was stopped from reaching Islamabad airport and missed his flight to Skardu for election campaigning in GB.

In a post on

The former speaker of the National Assembly alleged that the police kept him in custody until his flight to Skardu took off.

Qaiser said the incident showed that “elections in Britain are being rigged at all costs and people are being deprived of their right to vote.”

Later, PTI leaders and members of the opposition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP), including Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, held a press conference condemning the incident.

Qaiser told the press conference that leaders of all political parties were traveling to Skardu for election campaigning but had been prevented from leaving by the Punjab police.

“Stopping us and allowing others to leave is discrimination in politics,” the PTI leader said, recalling the treatment meted out to Akbar, who was arrested by British police in Hunza on Friday while campaigning for the upcoming elections.

“I appeal to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to cast their vote and also protect it,” he said, demanding that the chief election commissioner ensure a level playing field for all political parties.

“If you cannot offer a level playing field to all political parties, then resign from your position,” he added.

Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir also took to X to express his displeasure over the incident.

“Detaining Asad Qaiser is not only regrettable but also a flagrant violation of democratic values ​​and political freedoms,” he said.

Nasir added that in Britain, “federal ministers and leaders of other political parties are carrying out full-fledged election campaigns, but leaders of the PTI and TTAP are continually being attacked.”