ECP Disqualifies PTI Leaders, Including Opposition Leader in the Senate, Following Convictions in May 9 Riots
Pakistan's Election Commission (ECP) has disqualified several leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including Opposition Leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, and Sunni Ittehad Council chief Hamid Raza, following their convictions in cases related to the violent May 9 riots. The riots, sparked by the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, resulted in widespread vandalism and attacks on military installations and state-owned buildings.
Key Takeaways:
- The ECP disqualified 11 PTI lawmakers, including Faraz, Ayub, and Raza, under Article 63(1h) of the Constitution for their convictions in the May 9 riots.
- The opposition leaders were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for their roles in the riots, which resulted in the vandalization of military installations and state-owned buildings.
- The disqualifications come after other recent disqualifications of PTI leaders and lawmakers, including MNA Abdul Latif and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry.
- Over 100 PTI leaders and workers, including key opposition figures, were sentenced to jail terms of up to 10 years in connection with the May 9 riots.
- The anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad convicted 107 out of 108 accused in one of the cases, while 77 accused were acquitted in another case due to a lack of evidence.
Statistics:
- 11 PTI lawmakers were disqualified by the ECP under Article 63(1h) of the Constitution.
- 107 out of 108 accused were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in one of the cases.
- 77 accused were acquitted in a case due to a lack of evidence.
- Over 100 PTI leaders and workers were sentenced to jail terms of up to 10 years in connection with the May 9 riots.
- The riots resulted in widespread vandalism and attacks on military installations and state-owned buildings.
Sources:
- Pakistan Today, July 2023
- Dawn.com, July 2023
- Geo News, December 2022