ISLAMABAD: On Thursday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) dismissed a petition seeking the removal of the interim federal minister, Fawad Hassan Fawad, from his position due to alleged ‘political affiliation’.
The plea, submitted by high court advocate Syed Aziz Uddin Kaka Khel, prompted the election commission to address the matter.
After thoroughly examining the plea and considering potential implications on the political landscape, the ECP found insufficient evidence to justify Fawad Hassan Fawad’s removal from his appointed role.
The ECP delivered a favorable verdict on the request, rejecting the plea from Aziz Uddin Kaka Khel. Before this, the ECP had previously ordered the removal of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Ahad Cheema from his post.
Ahad Cheema, a former civil servant who held a position in grade BPS-20 for over 15 years, had also served as an adviser to the then-PM Shehbaz Sharif on establishment matters.
The verdict came after a hearing on petitions filed against federal ministers and advisers regarding their political associations.
Notices had been issued by the election commission to Federal Minister for Privatization Fawad Hassan Fawad, Adviser Ahad Cheema, and Principal Secretary to the PM Tauqeer Shah.
Islamabad High Court Halts In-Camera Trial Of Cipher Case Till Jan 11
In another development, the Islamabad High Court issued a stay, delaying the in-camera trial of the cipher case until January 11, 2024.
This decision came after hearing a petition from Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), seeking a halt to the in-camera trial.
Earlier in the day, the IHC had rejected Khan’s petition, but a subsequent order was issued to stop the trial temporarily.
Imran Khan, currently in custody, filed a petition last week against his indictment in the cipher case and the proceedings by the special court under the Official Secrets Act.
The plea for a stay on the trial was initially dismissed by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, who stated that notices would be issued before making a decision.
The IHC instructed Khan’s lawyer, Usman Gul, to provide all necessary documents related to the cipher trial at the next hearing.
The PTI counsel argued in court about alleged irregularities in the cipher case, highlighting that an FIR was filed before the formal complaint.
During the hearing, the judge questioned the purpose of the petition, and the lawyer explained that legal procedures were not completed before the indictment.
He requested the IHC to direct the trial court to delay the case hearing for five or six days.
The judge inquired about the progress of witness statements in the cipher trial, and the lawyer mentioned that 25 witnesses had given statements, with the cross-examination of three completed out of a total of 27 witnesses.
