QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the nomination and election of Awami National Party (ANP) leader Aimal Wali Khan to the Senate from Balochistan, ruling that his candidature and election were in full compliance with constitutional and legal requirements.

A two-judge BHC bench comprising Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail and Justice Gul Hassan Tareen announced the verdict on the petition filed by advocates Muhammad Ali Kanrani and Hazrat Ali Kakar.

The petitioners had sought annulment of Aimal Wali’s nomination and subsequent election as senator from a general seat of Balochistan, arguing that he was neither a resident nor a registered voter of the province.

They contended that the respondent had fraudulently registered himself as a voter in Balochistan in violation of Section 110 of the Elections Act, 2017.

The court observed that the petitioners had failed to produce any evidence to show that Aimal Wali’s voter registration or address was obtained unlawfully. Citing Sections 26 and 27 of the Elections Act, the court said that a person is considered a resident of the constituency where their CNIC lists a permanent or temporary address and where their name appears on the electoral roll.

Accordingly, the court held that Aimal Wali Khan was fully qualified to contest the Senate election from Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2025