Gilgit-Baltistan’s top court removes PPP lawmaker over hidden assets in nomination papers

The Supreme Appellate Court directed that a copy of its verdict be sent to the Gilgit Baltistan chief election commissioner so that authorities can take immediate legal action in line with the ruling.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court disqualified PPP candidate Fida Muhammad Nashad on Thursday after finding that he concealed his assets in his nomination papers, overturning an earlier ruling from the region’s Chief Court that had cleared him to contest the elections.

The returning officer originally rejected Nashad’s nomination papers, prompting him to appeal the decision before the election tribunal. The tribunal upheld the returning officer’s ruling, but Nashad then challenged that outcome before the Gilgit Baltistan Chief Court, which sided with him and allowed him to run in the election.

The Gilgit Baltistan Election Commission later issued Form 47 following the general elections held in June, naming Nashad the winning candidate from constituency GBA 09 Skardu III. His opponent, Zakir Hussain, subsequently challenged Nashad’s eligibility to hold the assembly seat before the Supreme Appellate Court.

Chief Judge Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan issued an order on June 19 that suspended the announcement of the constituency’s official result until the court reached a final decision in the case. After hearing arguments from both sides on Thursday, Justice Shamim delivered a verdict disqualifying Nashad from holding the seat. The judge also heard testimony from representatives of the Election Commission and reviewed revenue records connected to the case.

After examining these records, the court determined that Nashad had failed to disclose complete details of his assets when he submitted his nomination papers for the Skardu III constituency. The court declared the Chief Court’s May 25, 2026 ruling null and void and reinstated the original decision issued by the election tribunal.

Justice Shamim stated that the election tribunal had correctly disqualified Nashad under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of Pakistan, citing his concealment of assets, submission of false statements, and violation of mandatory provisions under the Election Act. He further stated that the Chief Court had allowed Nashad’s petition against the tribunal’s final ruling without providing any sound legal justification for setting aside that decision.

The Supreme Appellate Court directed that a copy of its verdict be sent to the Gilgit Baltistan chief election commissioner so that authorities can take immediate legal action in line with the ruling.

The disqualification arrives weeks after the Pakistan Peoples Party emerged as the largest political force in the region following the June 7 elections, winning 12 of the 24 seats in the Gilgit Baltistan assembly. The party subsequently announced plans to form a government in the region with support from the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, under an arrangement in which the PML N agreed to sit in opposition rather than join a coalition government. Advocate Amjad Hussain, the party’s nominee for chief minister, took his oath of office earlier this week.

The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of asset declarations submitted by candidates seeking public office across Pakistan and its administered territories, where courts have increasingly relied on constitutional provisions addressing honesty and transparency in nomination filings. Article 62(1)(f) has featured prominently in numerous disqualification cases across the country in recent years, as election tribunals and appellate courts examine whether candidates accurately disclosed their financial holdings before running for office.

The ruling also underscores the layered judicial process that election disputes in Gilgit Baltistan typically follow, moving from returning officers through election tribunals and ultimately to the region’s Chief Court and Supreme Appellate Court. Legal analysts note that this structure allows for multiple opportunities to challenge nomination decisions, though it can also extend the timeline before a constituency’s final result becomes official.

With Nashad now disqualified, attention turns to how the vacated seat in GBA 09 Skardu III will be filled and whether it affects the broader balance of power within the newly formed coalition government. The Election Commission is expected to take further action following the court’s directive, though the exact process for addressing the vacancy has not yet been detailed publicly.

The verdict adds to a series of legal challenges that have shaped the composition of the Gilgit Baltistan assembly since the June elections, as candidates and political parties continue to contest results and eligibility questions in various constituencies across the region.