Senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including Senate and National Assembly opposition leaders Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub Khan, have filed petitions in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) recent ruling disqualifying them from public office following convictions related to the May 9 violence cases.
PESHAWAR – Prominent PTI parliamentarians have taken legal action against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by approaching the Peshawar High Court (PHC), seeking to overturn their disqualifications in connection with the May 9, 2023, unrest cases.
Senator Shibli Faraz and MNA Omar Ayub Khan submitted separate petitions challenging the ECP’s decision, which followed their recent convictions handed down by a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad. In their pleas, the lawmakers argued that the ECP lacks the constitutional authority to issue disqualification notifications without a judicial declaration.
The development comes a day after the ECP de-notified nine PTI lawmakers, including five National Assembly members, one senator, and three Punjab Assembly members, following their convictions in May 9 cases.
List of Disqualified Lawmakers:
- National Assembly: Omar Ayub (NA-18 Haripur), Rai Hassan Nawaz (NA-143 Sahiwal-III), Zartaj Gul (NA-185 DG Khan-II), Rai Haider Ali (NA-96 Faisalabad-II), Sahibzada Hamid Raza (NA-104 Faisalabad-X)
- Punjab Assembly: Muhammad Ansar Iqbal (PP-73 Sargodha-III), Junaid Afzal (PP-98 Faisalabad-I), Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal (PP-203 Sahiwal-VI)
- Senate: Senator Shibli Faraz
These disqualifications followed an ATC verdict in which 108 individuals were sentenced to 10 years in prison, while 77 others, including PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro, were acquitted.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Zartaj Gul, also among those convicted, secured protective bail from the PHC. In her petition, Gul stated she intends to appeal her conviction before the Lahore High Court (LHC) and sought protective bail to avoid immediate arrest. The court granted her request after hearing the arguments.
Gohar Slams ECP Over ‘Unlawful’ Ruling
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan strongly criticised the ECP’s actions, terming the disqualifications unconstitutional and politically motivated. “This is the first Election Commission operating under a court stay order,” he said while speaking to reporters.
He further argued that the ECP does not possess the legal authority to issue unilateral disqualification decisions and vowed that PTI would challenge the move in all relevant legal forums.
Gohar also pointed to public support during PTI’s August 5 protests, which he claimed took place in over 170 locations nationwide. “The people of Pakistan have spoken—they stand with Imran Khan,” he stated.
As the legal battle unfolds, the issue adds further complexity to Pakistan’s political landscape, already marred by post-May 9 tensions and ongoing courtroom contests between the PTI and various state institutions.
