Intra-court appeal seeking Gulalai’s disqualification rejected by IHC

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ISLAMABAD: An intra-court appeal to disqualify disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) MNA Ayesha Gulalai as a member of the National Assembly was rejected by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday.

In the appeal, the petitioner had challenged the verdict announced by IHC’s single bench, which was discarded. The court observed that proceedings regarding de-seating the MNA are underway in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

It said the Constitution states the process to disqualify a member of the parliament.

Earlier on Tuesday, the ECP had reserved its decision in the reference against disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member and MNA Ayesha Gulalai, seeking to denotify her from assembly seat. The five-member bench under the Chief Election Commissioner heard the case, filed by the PTI against her for defying the party orders.

PTI chief Imran Khan’s lawyer Sikander Mohmand reiterated before the commission that Gulalai announced to leave the party and then backtracked from her statement. She does not need to present a written resignation to leave the party, said the lawyer, upon which the ECP enquired regarding the adequate party procedure for leaving.

According to the party constitution, no fixed method is highlighted for resigning, said the PTI counsel, adding that the party chief has the power to expel a member. Gulalai’s counsel Barrister Masroor rejected PTI accusations and said that expressing the desire to leave the party and actually resigning are not the same thing.

Taking a jibe at PTI, the Gulalai’s counsel said that the party had also announced to resign from Parliament in 2014. “Gulalai has never tendered her resignation to the party and she isn’t leaving PTI in National Assembly,” he added.