The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's appeal for disqualification of MNA Ayesha Gulalai. PTI Chairman Imran Khan had filed an appeal against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) verdict. The ECP had declined the PTI petition to disqualify Gulalai from the membership of National Assembly.
PTI counsel Sikandar Bashir argued before a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, that Gulalai on a number of occasions in press conferences and TV interviews has stated that she has quit the party. She had also violated the party's constitution by not voting in the election of Prime Minister. The Chief Justice inquired from the counsel whether Gulalai had given resignation in writing. Sikandar replied in negative and said that Gulalai became member of National Assembly on women reserved seat, which was awarded by PTI to her.
He argued that later Gulalai changed her stance and started saying that this seat was of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and she would not vacate even if she had differences with the party. On August 28 last, Imran had sent a notice to Gulalai stating that she has defected from the party in terms of Article 63 A (1) of the Constitution.
The notice states that Gulalai on August 1 publicly resigned from the party, did not vote for the party's designated candidate in the Prime Minister's election. Gulalai had announced to quit the party in early August after leveling allegations of harassment and corruption against the PTI chief. However, she later retracted from the announcement and claimed she would continue to expose the party's double standard.
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