ECP disqualifies nine lawmakers including Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gull

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified nine legislators, including Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz and National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub.

The electoral watchdog has issued a notification de-seating all nine members. The disqualifications follow convictions in cases related to the events of 9th May.

The ECP has declared the seats of all affected members of the Senate and National Assembly as vacant. Among those disqualified are one senator, five members of the National Assembly, and three members of the Punjab Assembly.

The disqualified individuals include Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub (Opposition Leaders in the Senate and National Assembly, respectively), as well as Hamid Raza, Rai Haider, Rai Hassan, Zartaj Gul, and Junaid Afzal.

It is worth noting that a few days earlier, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Faisalabad sentenced 196 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers — including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul — to up to 10 years in prison in three separate cases related to the 9th May incidents.

Background

It is worth recalling that on 9th May 2023, following the arrest of Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) launched a nationwide protest.

During these protests, several violent incidents occurred, including the torching of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) office in Lahore’s Model Town on 9th May. Military, civil, and private installations were set ablaze, and both public and private property suffered extensive damage. At least eight people were killed and 290 injured during the unrest.

Protesters also stormed the residence of the Corps Commander in Lahore—commonly known as Jinnah House—and broke through one of the gates of the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

Subsequently, over 1,900 individuals involved in clashes with law enforcement, acts of vandalism, and arson were arrested across the country. Legal cases were also registered against Imran Khan, along with numerous party leaders and workers.