SKARDU: The Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan has disqualified Haji Fida Muhammad Nashad, the newly elected Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly member from GBA-9 Skardu-3, over charges of concealing assets. Nashad had contested and won the seat as a candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
A Seasoned Political Figure
Nashad is a prominent figure in Gilgit-Baltistan politics, having previously served as Deputy Chief Executive of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council and as Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.
Origins of the Dispute
The controversy traces back to the nomination stage of the election, when questions were first raised over Nashad’s asset declarations. The Returning Officer initially accepted his nomination papers, but rival candidate Zakir Hussain — who went on to secure only 11 votes in the general election — challenged the acceptance before the Election Tribunal.
The Tribunal sided with Hussain and rejected Nashad’s nomination papers. Nashad then appealed to the Chief Court of Gilgit-Baltistan, which granted him conditional permission to contest the election pending further proceedings.
Chief Court Restores Nomination, Then Reversed
After additional hearings, the Chief Court permanently restored Nashad’s nomination papers, clearing the way for his candidacy and eventual election win. Zakir Hussain challenged that ruling before the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan.
In its verdict issued today, the Supreme Appellate Court overturned the Chief Court’s decision, disqualifying Nashad and referring the matter to the Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan for further action.
What Comes Next
The Election Commission has not yet announced how it will proceed. Observers point out that in comparable cases elsewhere in Pakistan, precedents exist for both ordering fresh polling in the constituency and for declaring the runner-up the winner by default — leaving the outcome for GBA-9 Skardu-3 uncertain for now.