In a major political development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified nine lawmakers linked to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including two of its most prominent figures—Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz and National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub.
The disqualification comes in light of a ruling by an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad, which prompted the ECP to issue an official notification declaring their seats vacant.
Those disqualified alongside Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub include:
Sahibzada Hamid Raza, head of the Sunni Ittehad Council
Former minister Zartaj Gul
Junaid Afzal Sahi
Rai Hassan Nawaz
Rai Murtaza Iqbal
Rai Haider Ali
Muhammad Ansar Iqbal
According to the ECP notification, this decision results in one Senate seat, five National Assembly seats, and three Punjab Assembly seats being left vacant.
Vacant Seats:
Senate: Shibli Faraz’s seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
National Assembly:
NA-18 Haripur (Omar Ayub)
NA-96 Faisalabad (Rai Haider Ali Khan)
NA-104 Faisalabad (Sahibzada Hamid Raza)
NA-143 Sahiwal (Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan)
NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan (Zartaj Gul)
Punjab Assembly:
PP-73 Sargodha (Muhammad Ansar Iqbal)
PP-98 Faisalabad (Junaid Afzal Sahi)
PP-203 Sahiwal (Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal)
This sweeping disqualification is expected to trigger political ripples across both national and provincial landscapes, especially as by-elections may soon follow to fill the vacated seats.
