Summary Baldev was elected councilor from Swat on PTI's ticket
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Election Commission has appointed Baldev Kumar in place of late Sardar Soran Singh, slain special assistant to Chief Minister on minority affairs, despite the fact that he had confessed to orchestrating fatal attack on Singh, reported Wednesday.
“In pursuance of the provisions of Clause (6) of Article 224 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with Section 47A of the Representation of People Act, 1976, (Act No. LXXXV of 1976), the Election Commission of Pakistan is pleased to declare Mr. Baldev Kumar s/o Nanak Chand, resident of Zaman Khel, Berikot, Swat, belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, as returned candidate on the seat reserved for Non-Muslims in the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar,” the commission stated.
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Sardar Soran Singh was murdered in April this year in Buner area, some 160 kilometres (100 miles) northeast of Peshawar, following which two criminals were detained who confessed to the murder and named PTI’s councilor from Swat, Baldev Kumar as the handler.
Kumar later confessed to the have instigated the murder to get the seat.
Know more: PTI councillor Baldev Kumar murdered Soran Singh: DIG Malakand
After Singh’s murder, Kumar was the immediate next appointee-to-be for representation of the minorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Article 63 of the Constitution.
However, the political party in power, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protested and moved a petition in the commission to stop election of the murderer on late Singh’s seat. The provincial government recommended Ravi Kumar as the fresh appointment in Baldev s stead.
In the latest development in the issue today, the Election Commission has issued a notification of Kumar’s appointment despite PTI’s protest.
As of now, Baldev Kumar, murderer of an MPA has been appointed as member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on a dedicated seat.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, provincial ministers and people from all walks of life had attended the last rites of late Singh in April.
CM Khattak also visited paid a visit to survivors of Singh where he offered his condolences to the bereaved family and elders of the Sikh community.
The attack was widely condemned by lawmakers and rights activists.
