ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday disqualified PTI MNA Abdul Latif Chitrali and notified that NA-1, from where he was elected in 2024 elections, had fallen vacant.
Earlier in the day, the ECP reserved its judgment after both sides completed their argument.
The disqualification under Article 63 (1) is a result of Chitrali being convicted in a May attacks case.
In May this year, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad had sentenced Chitrali for 27 years after founding him guilty of attacking the Ramna Police Station in the federal capital during the May 9 riots.
The notification means that the country’s top electoral body would soon announce schedule for by-election in the constituency in the northernmost district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
However, Chitrali isn’t the first PTI parliamentarian facing disqualification as the ECP earlier this week slapped similar punishment on three others. Reason? Their conviction in another May 9-related case.
Read more: Malik Ahmad Bachar sentenced in May 9 Mianwali attack case
They include Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Bachar and two MNAs — Ahmed Chattha and Bilal Ejaz.
Meanwhile, the Sherpao bridge case registered for violent protests on May have also resulted in sentencing the likes of Yasmin Rashid
It’s a developing story. Details to follow