The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday barred the National Assembly speaker and Senate chairman from appointing new opposition leaders after the denotification of PTI’s Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz. A two-member bench, comprising Justices Arshad Ali and Khurshid Iqbal, also restrained the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from taking further action against PTI lawmakers. The court adjourned the hearing until August 15, leaving the opposition leadership in limbo.
The ECP had earlier de-notified nine PTI members, including Ayub (NA-18 Haripur), Rai Hassan Nawaz (NA-143 Sahiwal), and Zartaj Gul (NA-185 DG Khan), following their convictions in May 9 violence cases. They were disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, which bars individuals convicted of “moral turpitude” offenses with sentences exceeding two years. A special anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad had sentenced 108 accused, including Sunni Ittehad Council chief Hamid Raza, to 10 years in prison.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan condemned the ECP’s decision, calling it discriminatory and unjust. He claimed the commission disqualified PTI lawmakers without proper notice or hearing. “We are being targeted politically,” Gohar stated, urging negotiations to resolve the crisis. He also lamented failed dialogue attempts, revealing that PTI negotiators couldn’t even meet the party’s founder (Imran Khan) to discuss a way forward.
With the PHC’s interim order, the opposition leadership in Parliament remains unresolved, deepening political tensions. The PTI continues to challenge its lawmakers’ disqualifications, while the government faces pressure to address allegations of bias. As the August 15 hearing approaches, all eyes remain on whether the judiciary will provide relief or if the political standoff will escalate further.
