'PTI to move reference against four MNAs'

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to file a reference against four National Assembly members (MNAs) who defected to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after being elected with PTI's support.

According to PTI leader Asad Qaiser, the party has finalised its plan to take action against these lawmakers for deviating from the party policy during the voting on the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

The reference will be sent to the National Assembly speaker and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Last year, the four PTI-backed independent members, including Usman Ali, Aurangzeb Khichi, Mubarak Zeb and Zahoor Qureshi voted in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the National Assembly.

The move helped the government clinch 225 votes, surpassing the required 224.

The 26th Amendment significantly altered the country's judicial system, including provisions for judicial appointments, the chief justice's tenure and the composition of the judicial commission.

"These members won their seats on PTI tickets and have now joined the PML-N. We have asked the party to send a disqualification reference to the Speaker and the ECP. Let's see what action they take," Qaiser said.

Earlier, Qaiser had said the PTI-backed independent candidates, who supported the contentious constitutional amendment, betrayed the party and its founder, Imran Khan.

"Those who voted [in favour of the bill] have committed treachery against the party and its founder," Qaiser said.