PTI-linked MNA’s plea seeking time to prepare his defence rejected by ECP

ISLAMABAD: The electoral body has rejected the plea of a lawmaker linked to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking two-week time to prepare his defence in a reference seeking his disqualification over an alleged constitutional violation.

In addition, the electoral entity has given him the time till Friday (today) to engage a counsel in the reference.

A three-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday heard the reference, moved by one Nasrullah Khan, against PTI-linked Member National Assembly (MNA) Sohail Sultan.

The bench reviewed the respondent’s plea to be given two weeks to engage a counsel and prepare his defence in the case.

“More than enough time has already passed,” remarked Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, who headed the bench, referring to a stay order previously issued by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) in the related case.

The ECP, he said, is bound to decide the reference within the stipulated time.

The bench adjourned the reference’s hearing till Friday.

Sultan is accused of violating Article 63(1)(K) of the Constitution that bars public office-holders from being elected or chosen to the Parliament for two years after their retirement or resignation from the service.

Sultan was elected to NA-4 in 2024 general election, in alleged violation of the aforesaid article, when he was reportedly the advocate general of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The reference against him is sent to the ECP by Speaker NA Ayaz Sadiq under the relevant law.

In recent months, 16 PTI-linked lawmakers have been de-seated by the ECP following their convictions by the courts. These lawmakers comprise eight NA members, six Punjab Assembly members, and two senators.

Abdul Latif (NA-1 Chitral), Omar Ayub Khan (NA-18 Haripur), Ahmed Chattha (NA-66 Wazirabad), Rai Haider Ali (NA-96 Faisalabad), Sahibzada Hamid Raza (NA-104 Faisalabad), Rai Hassan Nawaz (NA-143 Sahiwal), Jamshaid Dasti (NA-175 Muzaffargarh), Zartaj Gul (NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan), Ansar Iqbal (PP-73 Sargodha), Ahmad Khan (PP-87 Mianwali), Junaid Afzal Sahi (PP-98 Faisalabad), Shahid Javed (PP-115 Faisalabad), Muhammad Ismael (PP-116 Faisalabad), Rai Murtaza Iqbal (PP-203 Sahiwal), Shibli Faraz (Senate) and Ejaz Chaudhary (Senate) are among the disqualified legislators.

Except Dasti, the other 15 lawmakers were de-seated by the ECP keeping in view their convictions by the anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) in the cases related to 9 May riots.

Dasti was disqualified by the electoral body on the charges of having fake educational credentials.

Meanwhile, Abid Sher Ali from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), in a separate ECP case against him, tendered an unconditional apology to the ECP on Thursday. He is accused of violation of ballot secrecy during by-election on Punjab Assembly’s seat PP-116 Faisalabad held on 23rd November last year. The ECP bench, headed by the CEC, would decide on whether to accept the apology or proceed ahead in the case.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026