ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers Zain Qureshi, Riyaz Fatyana, Aslam Ghuman, and Miqdad Ali Khan have been served show-cause notices by the party for allegedly violating directives during the passage of the controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment by the ruling coalition government.
According to separate notices issued by PTI’s central secretariat on Tuesday, all PTI members of the National Assembly and Senate had been instructed to prioritize their safety and security by staying at a designated location. Additionally, members were explicitly told not to communicate with anyone on behalf of the government regarding the constitutional changes.
This action follows the recent approval of the contentious constitutional law, which was tabled and passed by the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government in both the National Assembly and Senate. The approval process began Sunday evening and concluded early Monday morning (October 21). PTI strongly opposed the legislation, citing concerns about its impact on the judiciary.
During the vote, the government secured 225 votes, surpassing the required 224, with support from several independent MNAs, including some linked to PTI. Zahoor Qureshi, Aurangzeb Khichi, Usman Ali, and Mubarak Zeb—independents supported by PTI—voted in favor of the amendment, alongside Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)’s Chaudhry Ilyas.
Meanwhile, Zain Qureshi had been unreachable since October 16, and a video of him resurfaced on October 21 after the passage of the amendment. PTI Opposition Leader Omar Ayub claimed that Zain’s wife had been arrested, Miqdad Ali disappeared while en route to Islamabad, and Fatyana’s son was “disappeared” twice. Aslam Ghuman also remained out of contact with the party before and during the voting process.
The notices emphasized that all PTI members had been given clear instructions to avoid harassment and maintain contact with the party for further guidance. They further stated that the lawmakers had deliberately disregarded these directives, leaving the designated location and failing to stay in touch with the party’s authorized representatives.
The party has demanded that the lawmakers respond within seven days, explaining why they should not be deemed to have defected from the party and why they should not face expulsion for violating party directives. Failure to respond will result in immediate disciplinary action, including expulsion from PTI.
