PESHAWAR – The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday issued a stay order against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), preventing it from taking any further action against recently disqualified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers.
The PHC’s two-page interim order offers temporary relief to PTI members of parliament who challenged their disqualification, which followed convictions related to the May 9 riots. The court announced its reserved verdict on petitions filed by opposition leaders Omar Ayub Khan and Senator Shibli Faraz.
In the order, the court noted that the lawmakers had been convicted by the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad without being present during the proceedings. The petitioners informed the court of their intention to file appeals with the Lahore High Court (LHC), arguing that the ECP’s decision to disqualify them was made without granting them a proper hearing.
The PHC issued notices to the ECP and other relevant parties, adjourning the case until August 20.
A day earlier, the ECP had de-notified nine PTI legislators after the Faisalabad ATC sentenced several party leaders to 10 years in prison for their alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023, violence. Those disqualified include five National Assembly members, one senator, and three members of the Punjab Assembly.
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The disqualified MNAs are 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), and Sahibzada Hamid Raza (NA-104 Faisalabad-X). The de-notified Punjab Assembly members are Muhammad Ansar Iqbal (PP-73 Sargodha-III), Junaid Afzal (PP-98 Faisalabad-I), and Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal (PP-203 Sahiwal-VI).
In the same verdict, the Faisalabad ATC convicted 108 out of 185 accused individuals while acquitting 77 others, including former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro.
Separately, the PHC also granted protective bail to former minister Zartaj Gul. In her petition, Gul stated her intent to challenge her conviction in the LHC and sought bail to avoid immediate arrest. After hearing her counsel, the court granted her protective bail.