The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) today (Wednesday) announced its verdict on the disqualification references filed against Adil Bazai.
Bazai, an independent candidate from Quetta, had first submitted an affidavit declaring his allegiance to PML-N but later switched sides to the Sunni Ittehad Council just days after. During the hearing, Bazai’s lawyer claimed the affidavit indicating his PML-N membership was fraudulent.
In response, Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer argued that Bazai’s actions were a breach of the constitution, particularly in regard to voting on the finance bill and constitutional amendments.
This decision follows a reference made by the Speaker of the National Assembly, who forwarded Bazai’s name to the ECP for disqualification. The reference requested that the ECP de-seat Bazai from his National Assembly seat.
Nawaz Sharif, the President of PML-N, had sent Bazai’s disqualification reference to the Speaker, who then passed it on to the ECP. Bazai, who had won his National Assembly seat from Balochistan, was initially listed as a PML-N member on the National Assembly website. However, Bazai consistently denied these claims on his social media.
The PML-N’s reference stated that Bazai had become a dissident, leading to the Speaker’s request for his disqualification.
Adil Bazai, backed by PTI, had won the NA-262 seat in Quetta during the 2024 general elections.
