ECP reserves verdict in Ayesha Gulalai disqualification reference

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its decision in the reference against disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member and MNA Ayesha Gulalai, seeking to denotify her from assembly seat.

The five-member bench under the Chief Election Commissioner heard the case, filed by the PTI against her for defying its orders.

PTI chief Imran Khan’s lawyer Sikander Mohmand reiterated before the commission that Gulalai 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, 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.

Gulalai’s lawyer barrister Masroor rejected PTI accusations and said that expressing the desire to leave party and actually resigning are not the same thing.

Taking a jibe at PTI, the lawyer said that the party had also announced to resign from parliament in 2014.

Gulalai has never tendered her resignation to the party and said that she isn’t leaving PTI in National Assembly on August 7, Masroor said.

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.