The National Assembly has dismissed three senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders from key parliamentary roles after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified them in connection with the May 9 cases. Sources confirmed on Friday that Omar Ayub was removed as opposition leader, while the positions of parliamentary leader and deputy parliamentary leader—held by Zartaj Gul and Ahmad Chattha, respectively—were also declared vacant. The decision follows the ECP’s de-notification of PTI lawmakers convicted by a Faisalabad anti-terrorism court.
The special anti-terrorism court sentenced 108 individuals out of 185 accused in the May 9 cases, while acquitting 77 others, including former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro. The National Assembly speaker formally notified the House of the disqualifications in accordance with assembly rules. Opposition members are now in consultations with the speaker to select a new opposition leader, while PTI-backed independents must submit fresh nominations for the vacant posts.
In addition to losing his role as opposition leader, Omar Ayub was also removed from the finance committee of the Public Accounts Committee. The National Assembly further revoked the memberships of 15 standing committees previously held by seven disqualified PTI lawmakers. Prominent among them were Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who was ousted as chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights, and Zartaj Gul, who lost her position as a member of the same committee.
The reshuffle also saw Rai Hassan Nawaz removed as chairperson of the Standing Committee on Railways. These developments mark a significant shift in parliamentary dynamics as opposition parties regroup following the disqualifications. The PTI, now facing the loss of key leadership roles, must reorganize its parliamentary strategy amid ongoing legal and political challenges.