Pakistan EC rules against de-seating dissident PTI lawmakers

Islamabad, May 11 The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday dismissed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s  (PTI) references seeking the disqualification of its dissident members from the National Assembly.
PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan had sent a declaration to former Pakistan National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser seeking the disqualification of 20 party members from the National Assembly after they decided to vote against him in the no-confidence motion.
A report by Geo News said that a three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja in today’s verdict unanimously said the declaration filed against the lawmakers under Article 63(A) was not found in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan.
Reacting to the ruling, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, in a statement, termed the ECP’s decision “foolish” but “expected” as it was already apparent what conclusion the electoral body would reach.

He said the party would fight such “lawlessness” and prevail with the support of the people.
“This decision of the election commission will be challenged in the Supreme Court,” he said, adding that a reference would be filed against Raja in the Supreme Judicial Council, local media reported.
It is noteworthy that the dissident lawmakers’ votes were not needed in Imran’s removal from prime minister’s post, as the opposition managed to stitch together the required numbers.