FCC issues notices to KP CM Afridi on estranged PTI leader Marwat's plea against his appointment

The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) issued a notice to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on October 3, regarding a petition challenging his appointment. The case was brought forth by PTI leader Sher Afzal Khan Marwat, who argued that the resignation of former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur was made under unconstitutional influence from jailed PTI founder Imran Khan.

Marwat's petition, filed under Article 175-E of the Constitution, requested a declaration that Gandapur's resignation letters were invalid due to the unconstitutional dictation of a convicted individual, thus making them legally ineffective. The FCC, in a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, summoned Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan to provide input on the interpretation of constitutional law.

The petitioner argued that a person disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution was unable to exercise control over state functions or provide binding political directives. The FCC was asked to quash all actions following the Oct 15 notification of Afridi's appointment and to restore Gandapur as the chief minister, declaring his resignation invalid and legally ineffective.

The petition emphasized the importance of preserving constitutional governance in KP and questioned the legality of a disqualified individual issuing directives that could disrupt elected provincial governance.