The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has de-notified nine PTI lawmakers, including Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz and National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan, after an anti-terrorism court convicted and sentenced them to 10 years in prison for their alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023 riots. The ECP’s notification cited Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, which bars convicted individuals from holding public office.
Among those disqualified are five MNAs (Omar Ayub, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Zartaj Gul, Rai Haider Ali, and Sahibzada Hamid Raza), one senator (Shibli Faraz), and three Punjab MPAs (Muhammad Ansar Iqbal, Junaid Afzal, and Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal). The Faisalabad ATC had earlier sentenced 108 out of 185 accused, including Sunni Ittehad Council chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, in connection with the violent protests following Imran Khan’s arrest last year.
The disqualifications mark another legal and political setback for PTI, which has been struggling to maintain its parliamentary presence amid a crackdown on its leadership. The party has been holding nationwide protests demanding the release of Imran Khan, who completed two years in prison on August 5. The convictions and subsequent de-notifications further weaken PTI’s position ahead of potential elections.
The May 9 cases, involving attacks on military installations, have led to mass convictions of PTI leaders and workers, with courts handing down strict sentences. Analysts say the latest move could further marginalize PTI in mainstream politics, raising questions about the party’s future strategy. As legal battles intensify, will PTI find a way to regroup, or will its political influence continue to erode? #PTI #ECP #May9Violence #ImranKhanJailed #PakistanPoliticalCrisis