Disqualification sought: ECP adjourns reference against PTI-linked lawmaker till 27th

ISLAMABAD: The electoral organisation has adjourned till the coming Tuesday a reference against a lawmaker linked to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that seeks his disqualification as a parliamentarian over an alleged constitutional violation.

A three-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, and comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi, heard the reference on Friday.

During the proceedings, an associate of Babar Awan, the defence lawyer, appeared before the bench and informed that Awan could not appear before the bench for the hearing due to his engagements in the Supreme Court. The associate counsel requested the adjournment of the case.

The CEC remarked that the bench fixed the Friday hearing on Awan’s request.

The reference was then adjourned till coming Tuesday (January 27).

The reference, moved by one Nasrullah Khan, seeks disqualification of PTI-linked Member National Assembly (MNA) Sohail Sultan.

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 Swat in the 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 Article 63(2).

This law provides that if any question of disqualification of a member of the Parliament arises, the speaker NA is empowered to refer the matter to the ECP within 30 days.

In accordance with Article 63(2), the ECP is empowered to take a decision on the matter within 90 days.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026