ECP bins disqualification references against defecting PTI MPS

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) dismissed for “not being in accordance with the Constitution” references seeking disqualification of National Assembly members of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf (PTI) under Article 63-A over defection from their party.

A bench of the agency, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, had reserved its verdict in the case earlier on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, during the proceedings on Wednesday, the commission had also rejected the party’s request to accept any more records and evidence from it.

Article 63-A of the Constitution, the law on floor-crossing, provides that MPS who defect could lose their seats if they then vote against their party.

Article 63-A reads that an MP can be disqualified on grounds of defection if they “vote or abstains from voting in the House contrary to any direction issued by the parliamentary party to which he belongs, in relation to the election of the prime minister or chief minister; or a vote of confidence or a vote of no-confidence; or a money bill (budget) or a Constitution (amendment) bill”.

Last month, over a dozen of PTI lawmakers withdrew their support for Khan ahead of the no-confidence vote against him which saw him joining a lengthening list of elected prime ministers who have failed to see out their full terms; none has done so since independence in 1947.

Subsequently, the party had filed declarations and references against some 20 MPS, seeking their disqualification under Article 63-A.

The MPS included Noor Alam Khan, Mohammad Afzal Khan Dhandla, Nawab Sher Waseer, Raja Riaz, Ahmed Hussain Deharr, Rana Qasim Noon, Asim Nazeer, Amjad Farooq Khosa, Aamir Liaquat Hussain, Chaudhry Farrukh Altaf, Syed Mobeen Ahmed, Sayed Sami ulhassan Gillani, Abdul Ghaffar Wattoo, Basit Ahmad Sultan, Aamir Talal Gopang, Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari, Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Wajiha Qamar, Nuzhat Pathan and Javeria Zafar.

Today, Faisal Chaudhry, the counsel for PTI, requested the court to provide a copy of the verdict it had reserved, saying that he will challenge it.

He maintained that the dissidents had opposed PTI’S request to offer further evidence.