Days after Punjab Assembly (PA) Opposition Leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bachar and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member National Assembly (MNA) Mohammad Ahmed Chattha were convicted in a vandalism case related to May 9 riots, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified them from holding their seats.

 

According to the notification issued by the ECP on Monday, an anti-terrorism court found both lawmakers guilty and sentenced them to 10 years in prison.

 

“As a consequence, Chattha, MNA from NA-66 Wazirabad and, Ahmad Khan, MPA from PP-87 Mianwali-lll, have become disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan for being members of National Assembly and Provincial Assembly of Punjab respectively,” read the notification.

 

Resultantly, the electoral watchdog stated, notification to the extent of Ahmed Chattha and Ahmad Khan as returned candidates is recalled with immediate effect.

 

The case was registered in Mianwali over vandalism and riots related to the protests triggered by the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a corruption case on May 9, 2023.

 

Meanwhile, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, who was awarded a 10-year imprisonment by the ATC, has also been disqualified, said a separate notification issued by the ECP.

 

The commission stated that following his conviction, Chaudhry no longer meets the criteria to remain a senator under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution.

 

Last week, Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed and Ex-Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, were among the PTI leaders who were handed a 10-year rigorous imprisonment by ATC in Lahore each in connection with the May 9 violence case

Meanwhile, the court acquitted former foreign minister and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the same case, who, according to his defence, was in Karachi on the day of the alleged incident. Others acquitted in the same case include Hamza Azeem Pahat, Rana Tanveer, and Aizaz Rafiq.

 

The May 9 cases are linked to violent protests that erupted across the country following the arrest of Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a graft case. The unrest included attacks on public property and military installations, such as the Corps Commander House in Lahore, also known as Jinnah House.

 
While multiple PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrests, many still remain behind bars.