Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday de-seated the 25 dissident PTI lawmakers who voted for Hamza Shehbaz in the CM elections on April 16.
The ECP had reserved its verdict in the case on May 17. However, after postponement, it was announced today at 3 pm.
After the election of Hamza Shehbaz as the CM of Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi filed a reference in the ECP seeking the disqualification of 25 PTI dissident lawmakers who had voted Hamza Shehbaz for the slot of Chief Minister Punjab, allegedly against the party’s policy.
In the election, Hamza Shehbaz received 197 in the house of 371, meaning the support of PTI dissidents was key to his victory, and in case they are de-seated, Hamza Shahbaz will lose the majority.
The CM seat had fallen vacant after former CM Usman Buzadar resigned when a no-trust motion was filed against him in the provincial assembly by the joint opposition alliance.
In addition to that, it is also pertinent to mention that the Supreme Court, while interpreting Article 63-A of the Consitution at the request of President Dr Arif Alvi, had said the votes of a party’s turncoats would not be counted.
After the verdict of the SC, all eyes turned towards the ECP, as its decision also depended on the verdict of the apex court.
The 25 de-seated MPs are:
- Raja Sagheer Ahmed
- Malik Ghulam Rasool Sangha
- Saeed Akbar Khan
- Mohammad Ajmal
- Abdul Aleem Khan
- Nazir Ahmed Chohan
- Mohammad Amin Zulqernain
- Malik Nauman Langrial
- Mohammad Salman
- Zawar Hussain Warraich
- Nazir Ahmed Khan
- Fida Hussain
- Zahra Batool
- Mohammad Tahir
- Aisha Nawaz
- Sajida Yousaf
- Haroon Imran Gill
- Uzma Kardar
- Malik Asad Ali
- Ijaz Masih
- Mohammad Sabtain Raza
- Mohsin Atta Khan Khosa
- Mian Khalid Mehmood
- Mehar Mohammad Aslam
- Faisal Hayat
