ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan against the verdict of Election Commission of Pakistan which allowed MNA Ayesha Gulalai to retain her National Assembly’s membership.
A three-member bench announced the decision on the petition, which claimed that Gulalai had violated party laws and should be deseated as she did not vote for the PTI’s chosen candidate, Sheikh Rasheed, for the office of prime minister after the disqualification of former PM Nawaz Sharif in Panamagate case.
The court observed that Gulalai had not tendered a written resignation, adding that politicians used to make such announcement during their speeches.
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Khan’s petition furher said that a show-cause notice was served to Gulalai and she was given ample time to explain herself following her August press conference, where she imposed serious allegations of harassment against the party head.
The ECP, however, had ruled that Gulalai had not been provided reasonable time to explain herself. It added that the appellant had failed to prove that she had resigned.
Gulalai claimed that she had not taken part in the vote due to an illness, but the PTI had submitted a record of television talk shows on which she had appeared just before the election of a new PM and announced to leave party citing harassment.
The enstranged leader had claimed that she had communicated her reservation to part leadership but no action had been taken.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had also formed a committee to investigate Gulalai’s allegations against the PTI chief.
