PB-26 Quetta winner is an Afghan national, BHC informed

Deputy commissioner finds no proof of Kohzad being a Pakistani national

QUETTA: Quetta deputy commissioner has confirmed before the Balochistan High Court that Ali Ahmed Kohzad, who has been elected member of provincial assembly on ticket of the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) in the July 25 general election, is non-Pakistani and a resident of Afghanistan.

A representative of the Quetta deputy commissioner submitted a report before the BHC division bench, comprising Justice Abdullah Baloch and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, which was hearing a constitutional petition of Kohzad of HDP against blockage of his Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).



He had contested the provincial assembly election from PB-26 Quetta and was elected after securing 5,117 votes, defeating Wali Muhammad of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, who obtained 3,242 votes. NADRA had blocked Kohzad’s CINC before elections on reports that he is not a Pakistani and an Afghan refugee.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had disallowed him to contest elections. However, Kohzad filed a petition against the ECP’s decision in the BHC, which allowed him to take part in elections.

A committee was formed to investigate the blockage of Kohzad’s CNIC and his claim of being a Pakistani citizenship.



The submitted report revealed that the petitioner Kohzad had failed to prove his Pakistani nationality. It said that he also remained unable to present any documentary evidence in support of his claim of being a Pakistani national.

The report disclosed that NADRA investigation has proved that Kohzad is an interloper in a Pakistani family belonging to the Hazara community.

The division bench, after submission of the deputy commissioner’s probe committee report, adjourned the hearing of the petition till August 6.