Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) formally exhibited five of its national assembly members to defend the party’s directions and votes in favor of the 26th constitutional amendment-a step that the party called a “flagrant violation of oath, loyalty and parliamentary discipline.”
The expulsions were confirmed through formal messages issued by PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. Legislators – Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Zahoor Elahi, Usman Ali, Mubarak Zeb and Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry – were selected on PTI tickets and had, according to the party, promised to maintain its parliamentary attitude.
An official PTI declaration said the party’s parliamentary meeting on September 2, 2024, had unanimously decided to oppose the 26th amendment at all stages. These instructions were submitted to the speaker of the National Assembly on September 5 to Post. On October 21, however, the five legislators voted for the bill, which allowed the government to adopt it by 225 votes – only one over the required 224.
Following the vote, the PTI Show issues announced to the MNAs on November 5 and asked why they should not be disqualified for rejection and violation of party discipline in accordance with Articles 62 and 63. A consultation committee was formed, but none of the legislators responded or emerged.
The party also claimed that the MNAs had joined another parliamentary party by taking seats on the Treasury benches and attending its meetings, as it says, forms formal rejection under constitutional provisions.
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“You are hereby declared to have violated your commitment, oath and loyalty to the party,” the message reads. “You voted for the 26th Constitutional amendment, 2024, and by behavior has joined another parliamentary party. You are therefore expelled from the party immediately.”
The PTI management has also requested the Election Commission in Pakistan to initiate procedures for disqualification of the five MNAs under Article 63a of the Constitution.
The Five MNAs had voted for the 26th Constitutional amendment proposal, which allowed the government to secure 225 votes – one over the 224 required for passage.
The 26th amendment introduced significant changes in Pakistan’s legal structure, including audits of the process of legal appointments, Chief Justice’s mandate and the composition of the legal commission.
