ECP issues notice to KP CM Gandapur over disqualification plea in property case

• KP CM was supposed to return property on demand by owner.
• Gandapur "unqualified" for making wrong declaration, plea says.
• Two-member ECP bench conducted hearing of petition.

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was sent a notice by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after a petition was filed calling for his disqualification for allegedly misleading about a patch of land, reported The News on Wednesday.

The petition, filed against Khan with the electoral 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 till March 26.

 In a two-page short order issued following the hearing, the bench decided to issue a notice to the newly appointed KP chief minister, who was elected following his provincial win from his home constituency Dera Ismail Khan.

In his plea, Muhammad Kafeel — the petitioner — claimed that 735-kanals of land, situated in Mouzah Girah Muhabbat and Muzah Rohri, Kulachi, district DI Khan, was transferred in the name of Gandapur temporarily while Asif Khan was the real owner.

He pointed out in the petition that according to the undertaking given by Gandapur, he was the ostensible owner, while Khan was the sole and absolute owner of the said property. However, the KP chief minister was supposed to return it on demand by Khan.

The petitioner said in liabilities forms furnished for the year 2020 and duly published, Gandapur had allegedly shown purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser, YB-777 from the funds which he received from the sale of 735 kanal land. He also contended that on account of such wrong declaration, Gandapur was not qualified to hold the office of member provincial assembly.

With the signatures of ECP Sindh member, the order said, “We have heard preliminary arguments which need consideration on merits. Office to issue notice to respondent No. 5 (Ali Amin Gandapur) for the date fixed through District Election Commissioner concerned. The service report of DEC shall reach to this office before the date fixed. Case to come up on 26.03.2024.”

Gandapur was elected a member of KP Assembly from PK-113, DI Khan, in the recently held general elections as a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independent candidate, who was subsequently elected as chief minister of the province. His name was selected for the slot by party’s founder chairman Imran Khan.