PTI loses key parliamentary positions after ECP disqualification ruling

The National Assembly has dismissed three senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders from key parliamentary roles after their disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in connection with the May 9 cases, sources confirmed on Friday.

Omar Ayub has been removed from his position as opposition leader, while the posts of parliamentary leader and deputy parliamentary leader — previously held by Zartaj Gul and Ahmad Chattha — have also been declared vacant.

The move follows the ECP’s de-notification of several PTI lawmakers after their convictions by a Faisalabad special anti-terrorism court in May 9 cases. The court had sentenced 108 individuals out of 185 accused, while acquitting 77, including former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro.

According to the NA speaker, the disqualifications were made under assembly rules, and discussions are now underway between opposition members and the speaker to appoint a new opposition leader. PTI-backed independents will also need to submit fresh nominations for the other vacant posts.

Omar Ayub has additionally been removed from the finance committee of the Public Accounts Committee. The National Assembly has also withdrawn memberships from 15 standing committees previously held by seven disqualified PTI lawmakers.

Among the changes, Sahibzada Hamid Raza lost his role as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights, Zartaj Gul was removed as a member of the same committee, and Rai Hassan Nawaz was replaced as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Railways.