ISLAMABAD; The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday formally disqualified several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, including the Opposition Leaders in the Senate and National Assembly — Senator Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub Khan — following their convictions in the May 9 riots case.
According to the notifications issued by the ECP, the lawmakers were disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, which bars individuals from holding office if convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced to at least two years in prison.
The disqualifications followed a recent verdict by a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad, which sentenced several PTI leaders, including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul, to 10 years in prison over their alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023, violence.
A total of nine lawmakers lost their parliamentary status: five Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), one Senator, and three Members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs).
The MNAs include:
- Omar Ayub (NA-18 Haripur)
- Rai Hassan Nawaz (NA-143 Sahiwal-III)
- Zartaj Gul (NA-185 DG Khan-II)
- Rai Haider Ali (NA-96 Faisalabad-II)
- Sahibzada Hamid Raza (NA-104 Faisalabad-X)
The disqualified Punjab Assembly members are:
- Muhammad Ansar Iqbal (PP-73 Sargodha-III)
- Junaid Afzal (PP-98 Faisalabad-I)
- Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal (PP-203 Sahiwal-VI)
Sahibzada Hamid Raza, head of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), was also handed a 10-year sentence by the same ATC. In total, 108 individuals out of 185 accused were convicted in the case.
These disqualifications further intensify the legal challenges facing PTI, which continues to stage nationwide protests demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan. Khan marked two years in prison on August 5 and remains incarcerated in multiple cases involving charges ranging from corruption to terrorism.
The May 9 unrest erupted following Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court premises in a graft case. The widespread protests saw attacks on public infrastructure and military installations, including the Corps Commander’s residence in Lahore, known as Jinnah House.
While many PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after the riots, several continue to remain in custody. Imran Khan, ousted via a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has been behind bars since August 2023.
