- ECP asks Gulalai to submit written response to disqualification reference filed against her by PTI
ISLAMABAD: Ayesha Gulalai, the estranged member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on Thursday said that she has not left the party and will continue to remain a part of it, as “the PTI is not the personal estate of Imran Khan”.
Addressing reporters after appearing before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Gulalai said: “Imran Niazi does not have the right to expel anyone from the party”, as she urged people not to attend PTI’s political gathering scheduled in NA-120, Lahore on Friday.
“People should not go to jalsas of a characterless man. Imran Niazi’s politics of deceit will not continue,” she said.
Continuing her jibes at the PTI chairman, Gulalai said that Imran did not even visit the ailing dengue patients in Peshawar as he fears that he may get infected with the virus.
“PTI has become hostage to the feudal and rich, and there is no respect for poor and young workers within the party. Middle-class workers cannot even come on stage at the PTI jalsas,” she lamented.
She also lashed out at some media channels for not highlighting the issues of dengue patients admitted in the hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa, accusing them of compromising their impartiality to support the PTI chairman.
ECP directs Gulalai to submit response
Meanwhile, the ECP has directed Gulalai to submit a written response in the next hearing of a disqualification reference against her.
Earlier, Imran Khan had sent a notice to Gulalai stating that she has defected from the party in terms of Article 63 A (1) of the Constitution.
“In furtherance thereof and in compliance with the requirements of Article 63 A (2) of the Constitution, this declaration is being forwarded to you as well as the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chief Election Commissioner for further action in accordance with the Constitution,” states the notice.
Gulalai had earlier this month levelled allegations of harassment and corruption at the PTI chief.
The notice, dated August 28 and sent to Gulalai’s home addresses in Islamabad and Peshawar, states that Gulalai on August 1 publically resigned from the party and did not vote for the party’s designated candidate in the prime minister’s elections on August 1.
“Each of your two aforementioned act(s) and omission(s) fall squarely within and constitute valid and actionable grounds under Articles 63 A (1) (a) and 63 (1) (b) (i) of the Constitution for declaring that you have defected from the PTI in terms of the said provisions of the Constitution.
It also mentions that Gulalai failed to reply to a show-cause notice issued to her by the party on August 10.
