Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz have approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against their de-notification from the National Assembly and Senate seats by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
In their petitions, filed through Advocate Basheer Wazir, the ECP, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the Chairman of the Senate have been named as respondents.
The petitioners stated that Omar Ayub is not only a Member of the National Assembly but also the Leader of the Opposition, while Shibli Faraz is a Senator. On August 5, the ECP disqualified both leaders and de-notified them from their respective seats.
According to the petitions, on August 6, the PHC had restrained the ECP from taking any further action on its August 5 notification against the two leaders. Despite this, the Speaker of the National Assembly de-notified Omar Ayub and declared his seat vacant, while the Senate Chairman de-notified Shibli Faraz and declared his Senate seat vacant.
The petitioners argue that these actions, taken in defiance of the court’s orders, amount to contempt of court, and have sought contempt proceedings against the Speaker and the Senate Chairman.
On the other hand, PHC has issued notices to the federal and provincial governments, along with other relevant institutions, seeking replies in eight petitions filed for the recovery of missing persons. The court disposed of one petition after the registration of an FIR.
A single-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali heard the petitions. Assistant Advocate General Jawad Khan, Assistant Attorney General, and the police focal person appeared before the court.
The petitioners’ counsel informed the bench that despite filing applications with various authorities for the recovery of the missing persons, there had been no information on their whereabouts and no official communication from the authorities.
The court directed the federal and provincial governments and other respondents to submit their reports in the eight pending cases.
