Newly elected Senator Mashal Yousafzai has announced her intention to file a petition in the Peshawar High Court against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failing to issue her official notification, even seven days after the Senate elections.
The election for the Senate seat vacated by Dr. Sania Nishtar was held on July 31. While other successful candidates from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have received their notifications, Mashal Yousafzai’s notification is still pending, delaying her oath-taking.
Yousafzai expressed her disappointment: “It’s been seven days and I still haven’t received my notification. Because of this delay, I haven’t been able to take my oath.”
She said she remains hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon, but added that the ECP has not provided any explanation for the hold-up.
In response, Sohail Khan, spokesperson for the Election Commission in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, confirmed that all of Yousafzai’s documentation has been forwarded to the ECP headquarters in Islamabad. “The notification should have been issued by now,” he acknowledged. “We expect it will be released today or tomorrow.”
Yousafzai, however, made it clear that if the delay persists, she will move the court to protect her constitutional right to take office.