Urdu Report Desk
Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court has disposed of a petition filed by Sher Afzal Marwat seeking the disqualification of Sohail Afridi, the ousted chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, declaring that the case can no longer proceed following the imposition of emergency rule and governor’s rule in the province.
A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, with Justice Ali Baqar Najafi as a member, heard the petition on Thursday.
The court observed that recent political and constitutional developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had made further proceedings in the disqualification case unnecessary.
Court Questions Whether Petition Remains Maintainable
During the hearing, Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan asked whether the petition remained maintainable following the recent developments involving the chief minister and the change in the provincial government.
The chief justice noted that Sohail Afridi no longer held the office of chief minister under the prevailing circumstances, leaving no basis for continuing proceedings on the disqualification petition.
Justice Ali Baqar Najafi also observed that the case against Afridi was no longer an active matter. He added that the imposition of emergency rule and governor’s rule involved separate legal and constitutional issues.
Marwat Seeks Time to Challenge Emergency and Governor’s Rule
During the proceedings, petitioner Sher Afzal Marwat told the court that he intended to challenge the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On that basis, he requested a brief adjournment in the disqualification case against Sohail Afridi. Marwat argued that if emergency rule or governor’s rule were lifted in the future, Afridi could be restored to the position of chief minister.
Court Allows Option to Seek Restoration of Petition
Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan clarified that if Sohail Afridi were reinstated as chief minister in the future, the petitioner would retain the legal right to file a miscellaneous application seeking restoration of the petition.
Following these observations, the court disposed of the case.
