Islamabad (October 17, 2017): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved it verdicts on a reference filed against MNA Ayesha Gulalai, a dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker, by the party seeking to de-seat her as member of the National Assembly.
A five-member bench of ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Sardar Raza Khan heard the reference filed by PTI against the dissident MNA.
After hearing arguments of both the parties’ counsels the ECP reserved its verdict.
Earlier, during the hearing, PTI’s counsel Sikander Mohmand while presenting his arguments said that Gulalai had 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 inquired regarding the adequate party procedure for leaving.
According to the party constitution, no fixed method is present for resigning, lawyer Mohmand said, adding that the party chief can expel a member.
“Gulalai leaving party but not leaving assembly membership is not possible as per the party Constitution,” said the lawyer.
He further said that after the declaration from Imran Khan, Ayesha Gulalai’s assembly membership should be cancelled.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan 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, dated August 28, states that Gulalai on August 1 publically resigned from the party, did not vote for the party’s designated candidate in the prime minister’s elections on August 1.
Gulalai announced to quit the party in early August after levelling allegations of harassment and corruption against the PTI chief.
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