ECP Disqualifies Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Other PTI Lawmakers Following May 9 Convictions
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially disqualified several high-profile lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. This includes National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub and Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz. The decision follows their convictions in cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots.
The ECP issued notifications under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution. This clause bars individuals convicted of a crime from holding parliamentary office. The action was taken after an Anti-Terr0rism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced several PTI leaders to 10 years in prison.
Among the disqualified lawmakers are Zartaj Gul, SIC chairman Hamid Raza, and MNAs Rai Haider Ali and Rai Hassan Nawaz. MPAs Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal, Junaid Afzal Sahi, and Muhammad Ansar Iqbal were also disqualified.
Notably, Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro were acquitted in their respective cases. PTI MPA Junaid Afzal Sahi received a 3-year sentence, while others, including Sheikh Rashid Shafiq and Sahibzada Hamid Raza, were sentenced to 10 years.
Additional PTI members convicted include Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz, Kanwal Shauzab, Farkhunda Kokab, and others. Their names appear in official notifications issued by the ECP.
This wave of disqualifications stems from the events of May 9, when protests erupted nationwide following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. PTI supporters took to the streets, and incidents of vandalism were reported in various cities including Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. Military installations, such as the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore, came under att@ck.
On July 22, the ATC in Lahore sentenced Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry to 10 years in a separate May 9 case. Meanwhile, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and several others were acquitted in that trial.
The ECP’s disqualification decisions have significant political implications, especially ahead of the upcoming general elections. The move leaves PTI without key leadership figures in both the National Assembly and Senate.
The situation remains fluid as legal appeals and political reactions continue to unfold. However, the current rulings mark one of the most sweeping disqualification actions against a single party in recent memory.
