Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday dismissed the disqualification reference filed against disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member and MNA Ayesha Gulalai.

Gulalai will remain as a member of the National Assembly from PTI.

According to details, two members of the five-member bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan had opposed the decision to let Gulalai remain a member of the National Assembly and PTI itself.

The five-member bench led by Sardar Raza had reserved its verdict regarding the reference filed by PTI chief Imran Khan against Ayesha Gulalai for showing defiance against the party and party’s constitution.

It is pertinent to mention here that PTI’s stance is that Gulalai had expressed the desire to leave the party and that she can not remain a party member alongwith maintaining the MNA’s berth as well.

Lawyers from both sides presented their arguments at Tuesday’s hearing.

Sikander Mohmand, Imran Khan’s representative for the reference case stated that it was the right of the PTI leadership to undertake any decision and take action against anyone who defects from the party.

The lawyer argued how Gulalai could not make an appearance at the National Assembly to play her role in appointing the new prime minister of Pakistan due to sickness but could conduct a press conference on the same day.

Ayesha Gulalai’s lawyer barrister Masroor while responding to these statements said that the PTI’s response that Gulalai did not respond to its show cause notice stands false as she had submitted a reply which was termed ‘unsatisfactory’ by the party leadership.

On the last hearing PTI’s lawyer had stated that Gulalai’s announcement of leaving the party without leaving her national assembly seat is impossible according to the party’s constitution.

Barrister Masroor, Gulalai’s lawyer rejected these accusations made by the PTI lawyer and PTI chief and stated that expressing the desire to leave party and tendering an official resignation are two different matters, Adding that, Ayesha Gulalai had never tendered her resignation to the party office and is not quiting representation of PTI in the national assembly.