Pakistan's Election Commission Disqualifies 9 PTI Lawmakers

Strategic Insights -

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified nine parliamentarians from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz and National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, following convictions in connection with the May 9 violence cases. The disqualifications were implemented in pursuance of orders from the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Faisalabad, which handed down convictions on July 31, 2025. As a result, all nine lawmakers have lost their seats in the National Assembly, Senate, and Provincial Assemblies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The disqualifications were issued under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, which bars individuals convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude from remaining members of parliament.
  • The disqualified lawmakers include Senator Syed Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub Khan, Rai Haider Ali Khan, Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza, Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan, Zartaj Gul, Muhammad Ansar Iqbal, Junaid Afzal Sahi, and Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal.
  • The disqualifications were implemented in pursuit of convictions in connection with the May 9 violence cases, for which the lawmakers were sentenced to imprisonment.
  • The seats of the disqualified lawmakers are now officially vacant, and by-elections will be scheduled in accordance with the law.
  • The disqualifications follow orders from the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Faisalabad, which convicted the lawmakers on July 31, 2025.
  • The qualified lawmakers will face by-elections to fill their vacant seats.

Statistics:

  • 9 PTI lawmakers have been disqualified, including Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz and National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub.
  • The disqualified lawmakers owned a total of 13 seats in the National Assembly, Senate, and Provincial Assemblies.
  • 7 of the disqualified lawmakers were Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), while 2 were Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs).
  • The total number of disqualifications under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution has now reached 11, since 2 lawmakers were previously disqualified under the same article.

Sources:

  • "Election Commission of Pakistan Official Notification" (August 5, 2025)
  • The definition of moral turpitude is stated as Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution of Pakistan.