ISLAMABAD – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday officially disqualified multiple Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, including key opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate — Omar Ayub Khan and Senator Shibli Faraz — following their convictions related to the May 9 riots.
In a notification issued by the electoral body, the ECP stated that an anti-terrorism court had found the lawmakers guilty and sentenced them to prison, prompting their disqualification under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution. This clause bars individuals from holding public office if they are convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude and sentenced to two or more years in prison.
The ECP’s order affects nine legislators in total, including five National Assembly members, one senator, and three Punjab Assembly members.
The disqualified National Assembly members are:
Omar Ayub Khan (NA-18, Haripur)
Rai Hassan Nawaz (NA-143, Sahiwal-III)
Zartaj Gul (NA-185, DG Khan-II)
Rai Haider Ali (NA-96, Faisalabad-II)
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Sahibzada Hamid Raza (NA-104, Faisalabad-X)
Punjab Assembly members de-notified include:
Muhammad Ansar Iqbal (PP-73, Sargodha-III)
Junaid Afzal (PP-98, Faisalabad-I)
Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal (PP-203, Sahiwal-VI)
The ECP’s move follows convictions tied to the violent protests that erupted after former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest in May 2023, which saw widespread unrest and attacks on military installations across Pakistan.