ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has faced a major setback in the National Assembly after the Election Commission issued disqualification notifications following court verdicts.
According to sources, Omar Ayub has been removed from the position of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. Similarly, Zartaj Gul has lost her role as Parliamentary Leader, and Ahmad Chattha is no longer Deputy Parliamentary Leader.
In addition, PTI has also been asked to vacate the Opposition Leader’s chamber.
The Speaker of the National Assembly has formally informed the House about the disqualifications, in line with Assembly rules. This has prompted a fresh round of consultations between the opposition parties and the Speaker to decide on a new Opposition Leader.
Sources say the Speaker will issue a notification for the new Opposition Leader soon. PTI-backed independent members will also need to nominate new names for Parliamentary Leader and Deputy Parliamentary Leader.
Omar Ayub has also been delisted from the Public Accounts Committee and the Finance Committee. Furthermore, the membership of seven disqualified PTI members in standing committees has also been revoked.
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A special Anti-Terrorism Court in Faisalabad sentenced several senior PTI leaders, including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul, to 10 years in prison. They were convicted for their alleged involvement in the violent protests that took place across the country on May 9, 2023.
Following the court verdicts, the Election Commission of Pakistan issued disqualification notifications on August 5, 2025, under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution. This clause bars any person convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced to more than two years from holding public office.
As a result, five National Assembly seats and one Senate seat were declared vacant. The affected members were also removed from the parliamentary committees, including the Public Accounts Committee and Finance Committee.
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