Opposition leaders Omar and Shibli of the PTI party have lost their status in the National Assembly and Senate
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party found itself in a turbulent situation last week, as a stormy meeting was held amidst complaints from members about public statements made against each other. The turmoil escalated further with the disqualification of Omar Ayub Khan, Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan’s National Assembly, and Syed Shibli Faraz, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on August 5, 2025.
The disqualification, which followed their conviction in cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots, led to the automatic vacancy of their opposition leader positions in their respective houses. The disqualification orders stemmed from a military court sentencing that handed 10 years of rigorous imprisonment to several PTI leaders, including Ayub and Faraz, for alleged involvement in violent incidents during the May 9 riots. This move was supported by government officials but rejected by PTI, which denies inciting violence and is contesting the rulings in court.
Following their removal, the appointment of new opposition leaders in both the National Assembly and Senate was put on hold by the Peshawar High Court, which issued a stay order and directed the relevant authorities to respond by August 15, 2025. The court is reviewing petitions filed by the disqualified leaders challenging the ECP’s actions, partly arguing that the ECP acted without proper reference from the parliamentary leadership, raising constitutional questions about the disqualifications.
The political vacuum left by the disqualified leaders has disrupted parliamentary opposition functions and affected legislative dynamics. The case sets a precedent regarding the ECP’s authority to disqualify lawmakers without formal references from parliamentary leaders, potentially altering checks and balances in parliamentary procedures. As PTI contests the decisions and continues protests, the political environment remains tense, with possible ramifications for governance and election legitimacy debates.
In addition to the leadership vacancy, several PTI lawmakers lost their memberships in at least 15 standing committees. The National Assembly and Senate Secretariats declared the offices of Leader of the Opposition vacant for Omar Ayub Khan and Syed Shibli Faraz on August 5, 2025. The PTI parliamentary party suggested giving Marwat a patient hearing, but asked him to wait for the outcome of a report to be presented to Imran Khan for a final decision.
Meanwhile, Aleema Khan, the sister of the party founder, asked why Imran Khan's children were not being issued visas and mentioned that advocate Faisal Malik has been asked to contact Talal Chaudhry regarding this issue. The PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali stated that the party has not yet decided on its position regarding the by-polls. Zartaj Gul was de-notified as PTI's Parliamentary Leader, and Rai Hassan Nawaz was de-listed as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Railways. Omar Ayub was removed from the Public Accounts Committee and the Finance Committee.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza was removed as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights, and Zartaj Gul lost her membership in the Standing Committee on Human Rights. Ahmad Chattha lost his position as Deputy Parliamentary Leader. Sher Afzal Marwat, an ousted MNA, attended the parliamentary party meeting at the invitation of the leadership.
The political instability is not limited to the PTI alone. The opposition parties have also been affected, with the disqualification of key leaders and the ongoing legal proceedings. The political landscape in Pakistan continues to evolve, and the coming weeks are expected to bring more developments as the court hears the petitions and the political parties navigate the challenging circumstances.
References:
- Dawn News
- The Express Tribune
- Geo News
- The News International
- Al Jazeera
- The world watched as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party faced a series of challenges, including the disqualification of Omar Ayub Khan and Syed Shibli Faraz from the National Assembly and Senate by the ECP.
- The disqualification orders were based on convictions related to the May 9, 2023 riots, a decision supported by the government but disputed by PTI, who argue they were not inciting violence.
- The removal of these leaders has disrupted parliamentary opposition functions and affected legislative dynamics, setting a potential precedent for the ECP's authority to disqualify lawmakers.
- Meanwhile, general news outlets such as Dawn News, The Express Tribune, Geo News, The News International, and Al Jazeera continue to cover the ongoing political turmoil, including the suspensions of several PTI lawmakers from committees and the legal proceedings challenging the ECP’s actions.
- Beyond the PTI, other opposition parties have also been affected, with key leaders disqualified, adding to the political instability in Pakistan and highlighting the need for policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, and war-and-conflicts reporters to closely monitor the evolving political landscape.
