PTI's Omar Ayub withdraws appeal against ECP disqualification

Party to only pursue Shibli Faraz's case, Barrister Gohar informs Supreme Court

Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) federal ministers Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz have withdrawn their appeals against the disqualification from general elections and dismissal as opposition leader in Senate, respectively, it emerged on Monday. 

According to PTI Chairperson Barrister Gohar Ali Khan's statement before the Supreme Court, Ayub has withdrawn his appeal against his disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as he does not intend on contesting the next polls. His wife will run a campaign for that seat instead. 

The appeal against his dismissal as opposition leader in National Assembly was also withdrawn and the new opposition leader has already been notified, said Khan. 

As for Faraz, Khan apprised the court that his appeal against his removal as opposition leader in the upper house has been withdrawn. 

Read: Top court to hear appeals of PTI's Omar, Shibli

However, Faraz's appeal against the his disqualification by the ECP stands, said Khan, moving the court to issue notice on the matter. 

During the hearing, Justice Aminuddin Khan inquired whether both the PTI leaders had surrendered. 

Khan replied in the negative, adding that the matter was of a civil nature and the party only intends to pursue Faraz's case. 

Justice Shakeel Ahmad asked about the date of the Senate by-election.

To which, Gohar replied that the by-election is scheduled for October 30.

The bench observed that very little time has been given for the by-polls and fixed the next hearing for October 29, notifying the ECP of the same. 

A special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad had sentenced senior PTI leaders Ayub, Faraz, Zartaj Gul and Hamid Raza to 10 years in prison each on July 31 for inciting violence on May 9, 2023, when protests broke out over the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court's (IHC) premises. 

On August 5, ECP disqualified nine lawmakers affiliated with the PTI, including Senate Opposition Leader Faraz and National Assembly Opposition Leader Ayub.

On August 25, the ATC in Faisalabad sentenced the two PTI leaders and dozens of others to 10 years in prison each in another case involving an attack on PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah's residence during May 9, 2023 riots.

The PTI leaders had first approached the Peshawar High Court, which dismissed their appeals as non-maintainable on the grounds that they had not surrendered before the court. Ayub and Faraz later challenged their disqualification in the Supreme Court.