The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its judgment in reference against disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Ayesha Gulalai seeking cancellation of her assembly membership. The five-member bench headed by the chief election commissioner heard the case wherein the PTI lawyer Sikander Mohmand maintained that Gulalai had defected from the party.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan sent a show cause notice to Gulalai on August 28 stating that she has defected from the party in terms of Article 63 A (1) of the Constitution. The notice said that Gulalai publicly resigned from the party on August 1 and also failed to vote for the PTI's nominated candidate, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, in the election for prime minister.
During hearing of the case, the PTI lawyer informed the bench that there is no fixed procedure in the party's constitution to leave or resign the party. Ayesha Gulalai is an elected member of National Assembly on the PTI's reserved seat for women. Gulalai's lawyer Barrister Masroor Shah informed the bench that there is a lot of difference between announcing one's desire to leave a party and actually tendering resignation. He informed the bench that his client has not resigned from the party.
Gulalai announced to quit the party in early August after levelling allegations of sexual harassment against PTI chief Imran Khan.