ECP disqualifies Ejaz Chaudhry, Ahmed Bhachar, Ahmed Chattha

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday disqualified three senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders — Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, National Assembly member Mohammad Ahmed Chattha and Punjab Assembly opposition leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar — following their convictions in cases related to the May 9 riots.

On July 22, the ATC in Sargodha sentenced 32 PTI leaders and workers, including Ahmed Chattha and Malik Ahmed AKhan Bhachar, to 10 years in jail for orchestrating a violent protest in Mianwali on May 9, 2023.

They were convicted on charges of inciting violence, arson and damaging public property.

The same day, the ATC in Lahore sentenced PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, Ejaz Chaudhry and Sarfraz Cheema to 10 years’ imprisonment in the Sherpao Bridge arson case, while acquitting Shah Mahmood Qureshi and several others.

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According to a notification issued by the ECP, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry was disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution after being sentenced to 10 years in prison by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore for his role in the violent protests following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan last year.

The notification also confirmed the disqualification of MNA Ahmed Chattha and MPA Ahmed Bhachar, both of whom were handed 10-year prison terms by the ATC in Sargodha for their involvement in the May 9 violence in Mianwali.

Ahmed Chattha had been elected from NA-66 Wazirabad, while Ahmed Bhachar represented PP-87 Mianwali in the Punjab Assembly.

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It may be noted here that ATC Lahore had acquitted PTI senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi in one of the cases related to the May 9 attacks along with five other accused, but the likes of Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid were awarded 10-year imprisonment.