ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court has disposed of a petition challenging Sohail Afridi’s appointment as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, declaring the case ineffective in the current circumstances. The petition was filed by Sher Afzal Marwat, who had questioned Afridi’s appointment to the provincial chief minister’s office.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan observed that further proceedings on the petition could not continue following the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency. He noted that Sohail Afridi was no longer serving as the chief minister under the circumstances presented before the court.
Justice Baqar Najafi, while commenting on the matter, pointed out that governor’s rule and the imposition of an emergency were two separate legal issues. His remarks highlighted the distinction between the constitutional and legal implications of the two measures.
During the proceedings, Sher Afzal Marwat informed the court that he also intended to challenge the imposition of governor’s rule and the emergency. His statement indicated that he wished to pursue separate legal proceedings concerning the measures affecting the provincial government.
Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan responded that a fresh petition could be filed if the emergency were lifted and the chief minister were restored to office. The court’s remarks outlined a possible legal route for addressing the matter if the circumstances changed in the future.
Following the hearing and the observations made by the judges, the Federal Constitutional Court disposed of Marwat’s petition, declaring it ineffective under the prevailing circumstances. The decision concluded the proceedings on the specific petition challenging Sohail Afridi’s appointment.
