IHC rejects intra-court appeal to disqualify MNA Ayesha Gulalai

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday rejected an intra-court appeal to disqualify Ayesha Gulalai as member of the National Assembly.

The petitioner in the appeal had challenged the verdict announced by IHC's single bench, which had discarded the petition.

Rejecting the intra-court appeal, the court observed that proceedings regarding deseating the MNA are ongoing in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

It said the Constitution states the process to disqualify a member of the parliament.

Earlier on Tuesday, the 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’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.