National Assembly Seat Vacant as PTI's Chitrali Disqualified Following 10-Year Sentence
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified another Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legislator, Abdul Latif Chitrali, and declared his National Assembly seat (NA-1, Upper and Lower Chitral) vacant. This decision follows the denotification of his electoral victory, which came after an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) sentenced Chitrali to 10 years in prison for his involvement in the violent events of May 9. The official ECP notification explicitly stated that Chitrali stands disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, marking a significant consequence in the aftermath of the widespread unrest.
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This action by the ECP is part of a series of disqualifications targeting PTI lawmakers convicted in connection with the May 9 riots. Just a day prior, the ECP issued similar disqualification notifications for three other PTI figures: Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, MNA Muhammad Ahmad Chattha, and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmad Khan Bhachar. All three were also handed 10-year prison sentences under anti-terrorism charges by an ATC. These rulings underscore the government's firm stance on holding individuals accountable for their roles in the civil and military installations targeted during the unrest.
The May 9 riots erupted nationwide following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, leading to widespread protests where PTI leaders and workers allegedly targeted key installations, including Jinnah House and the GHQ in Rawalpindi. The military condemned these events as a "Black Day," leading to arrests and trials under the Army Act. While some convictions have occurred, including those of Imran Khan’s nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi, and Dr. Yasmin Rashid, an ATC Lahore recently acquitted six PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Hamza Azeem, in connection with the same riots, highlighting the varied outcomes of the ongoing legal proceedings.
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