ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday rejected a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict that rejected his reference seeking the disqualification of Member of National Assembly (MNA) Ayesha Gulalai.
The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar upheld the ECP’s decision. Sikandar Bashir Mohmand appeared in the apex court on behalf of PTI.
On October 24, a five-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Muhammad Raza dismissed the reference seeking disqualification of the female lawmaker.
“Arguments on either side completed. For detailed reasons to be recorded separately and by a majority of three to two, the reference is hereby answered in the negative,” said the short order written by Sardar Muhammad Raza.
Imran Khan had approached the ECP seeking Gulalai’s disqualification for violating the party discipline by not participating in voting for the PTI’s nominated candidate Sheikh Rasheed in the election for the prime minister’s office.
The PTI chief stated that the rejection of his reference was an unconstitutional move.
Gulalai shot to prominence after she accused the PTI chief of misogyny and sending her inappropriate text messages. She had also alleged that women were not respected in the PTI and that she had quit over differences with the party leadership.