Election Commission disqualifies 9 PTI MPs including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, Sahibaza Hamid Raza over May 9 convictions
Suspends election schedule issued for NA-175 Muzaffargarh on LHC orders
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
In another major blow to the Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday de-notified 9 PTI lawmakers, including the opposition leaders in the Senate and National Assembly — Senator Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub Khan — following their convictions in the May 9 cases.
According to the notification issued by the ECP, an anti-terrorism court found lawmakers convicted the lawmakers and sentenced them to imprisonment.
Those disqualified include five members of the National Assembly, one senator, and three members of the Punjab Assembly.
The list includes Omar Ayub Khan (MNA from NA-18 Haripur), Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan (MNA from NA-143 Sahiwal-III), Zartaj Gul (MNA from NA-185 DG Khan-II), Rai Haider Ali (MNA from NA-96 Faisalabad-II), and Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza (MNA from NA-104 Faisalabad-X) from the lower house of parliament.
Punjab Assembly Members Muhammad Ansar Iqbal (MPA from PP-73 Sargodha-III) Junaid Afzal Sahi (MPA from PP-98 Faisalabad-l), and Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal (MPA from PP-203 Sahiwal-VI) were also de-notified.
The lawmakers were disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution (a person shall be disqualified from being elected [if] … he has been, on conviction for any offence involving moral turpitude, sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years).
The disqualification came days after a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced several PTI leaders including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul and others to 10 years in prison each in connection with a case registered in the aftermath of the May 9, 2023, violence at the Civil Lines Police Station.
In its verdict, the special ATC sentenced 108 individuals of the total 185 accused, which also includes Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief MNA Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who has been handed 10 years imprisonment.
Meanwhile Election Commission of Pakistan has suspended the election schedule issued for NA-175 Muzaffargarh on the orders of the Lahore High Court.
According to the notification issued by the ECP: Pursuant to the Order dated 30th July, 2025 passes by Lahore High Court, Lahore in writ petition number 45157 titled “Jamshed Ahmed” against ECP and others, the election program for the conduct of bye-election in NA-175 Muzaffargarh-1, notified dated 17th July, 2025 is hereby suspended till further order of the Lahore High Court, Lahore in the above titled case.