The petition claims that Gandapur is “not qualified” to hold office for making an incorrect statement regarding ownership of the property.
- KP CM was to return the property at the request of the owner.
- Gandapur “is not qualified” for making an incorrect statement, the statement said.
- The two-member ECP bench conducted the hearing of the petition.
ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has received a notice from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after a petition was filed seeking his disqualification for allegedly cheating over a plot of land, reported News On Wednesday.
The petition, filed against Khan before the election authority, was heard by a two-member bench comprising Sindh member Nisar Ahmad Durrani and Balochistan member Shah Muhammad Jatoi. The ECP then adjourned the hearing of the case until March 26.
In a brief two-page order issued after the hearing, the court decided to issue a notice to the newly appointed KP chief minister, who was elected following his provincial victory in his home constituency, Dera Ismail Khan.
In his statement, Muhammad Kafeel, the petitioner, stated that 735 kanals of land, situated in Mouzah Girah Muhabbat and Muzah Rohri, Kulachi, district of DI Khan, were temporarily transferred in the name of Gandapur, while Asif Khan was the real owner.
He pointed out in the petition that as per the undertaking given by Gandapur, he was the apparent owner, while Khan was the sole and absolute owner of the said property. However, the KP chief minister was supposed to return it at Khan's request.
The petitioner said in the liability forms submitted for the year 2020 and duly published, Gandapur had allegedly shown purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser, YB-777 with the funds received from the sale of 735 kanal land. He also maintained that due to such erroneous statement, Gandapur was not qualified to hold the post of member of the provincial assembly.
With the signatures of ECP Sindh member, the order read: “We have heard preliminary arguments which need consideration on merits. The Office will issue notice to respondent No. 5 (Ali Amin Gandapur) by the date fixed through the concerned District Election Commissioner. The DEC service report must arrive at this office before the set date. The case will be presented on 03/26/2024.”
Gandapur was elected KP Assembly member from PK-113, DI Khan, in the recently held general elections as an independent candidate backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, who was subsequently elected chief minister of the province. His name was selected for the post by the party's founding president Imran Khan.
