By Staff Reporter
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday halted the Election Commission of Pakistan from taking any action against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub, a day after the ECP disqualified them from their parliamentary roles following convictions tied to the May 9 riots.
The ECP on Tuesday stripped Faraz of his position as Senate opposition leader and Ayub as the National Assembly equivalent, alongside disqualifying then, Zartaj Gul, Sunni Ittehad Council chief Hamid Raza, and other PTI lawmakers. The move came after their convictions in cases linked to violent protests that rocked Pakistan on May 2023.
The unrest erupted when supporters of the PTI, enraged by the arrest of party founder Imran Khan, took to the streets nationwide. The protests turned violent, with demonstrators vandalising military installations, attacking state-owned buildings, and targeting the Lahore corps commander’s residence. In the aftermath, authorities arrested thousands of protesters, including prominent PTI figures.
Last week, an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad sentenced over 100 PTI leaders and workers to jail terms of up to 10 years for their roles in the riots. Among those handed rigorous imprisonment were Faraz, Gul, and Ayub, intensifying the legal pressure on the embattled party.
The Peshawar High Court bench comprising Justice Arshad Ali and Justice Farah Jamshed issued identical orders blocking the ECP from proceeding against Faraz and Ayub. The court noted that both leaders had surrendered before it to pursue appeals against their convictions, which are currently pending before the Lahore High Court.
The judges ruled that the convictions were not final and faulted the ECP for acting prematurely, without awaiting the appeal outcomes. The orders instructed that notices be issued to the respondents and directed the ECP to refrain from further action under its disqualification notifications. Both cases were adjourned to August 20.
Earlier Wednesday, the same bench granted protective bail to Faraz, Ayub, and Gul, providing temporary relief as they face their legal battles.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Ayub slammed the ECP’s decision, saying it had disqualified him “without following due procedure.” He expressed gratitude to the PHC for granting transit bail, enabling him to file his appeal.
In a post on X the previous day, Ayub denounced the anti-terrorism court’s ruling as a “bogus verdict,” vowing to challenge both it and the ECP’s disqualification in court. He also shared a video from the PHC, surrounded by PTI leaders and lawyers, where he said the court had given him “a few days” and that bail would be granted upon filing his appeal.
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