Disqualification Reference
ISLAMABAD: On Monday, the Speaker of the National Assembly referred a disqualification reference against Adil Bazai, a Member of the National Assembly (MNA), to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The reference urged the electoral body to disqualify Bazai and remove him from his National Assembly seat.
The disqualification request originated from the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif, who initially submitted the reference to the Speaker of the National Assembly. The Speaker then forwarded it to the ECP for further action.
Adil Bazai was elected as an MNA from a National Assembly constituency in Balochistan, specifically NA-262 in Quetta, during the general elections of 2024.
Initially, he was displayed on the official National Assembly website as a member who had joined PML-N. However, Bazai consistently denied these claims on his social media accounts, refuting any association with the PML-N.
The disqualification reference was filed by the PML-N, which stated that Bazai had become a dissident within the party. According to the PML-N, he no longer represented their political stance, leading to the call for his removal from the National Assembly.
The party claimed that Bazai’s refusal to align with PML-N directives and his public denial of affiliation warranted his disqualification from his parliamentary position.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, acting on the PML-N’s complaint, wrote to the Election Commission, requesting that Bazai be officially declared disqualified from his seat.
This move highlights the ongoing political discord within the party and brings the issue of party loyalty and dissidence into the spotlight.
Adil Bazai, who was originally elected as an independent candidate, secured his seat in Quetta’s NA-262 constituency.
Despite his independent status, the controversy surrounding his alleged association with PML-N has led to his current disqualification proceedings. As the ECP prepares to review the case, Bazai’s political future now hangs in the balance.
The disqualification process underscores the complex political dynamics in Pakistan, where party affiliations, loyalty, and dissidence often lead to legal and electoral consequences.
If the ECP rules in favor of the disqualification, Bazai will lose his seat, potentially reshaping the political landscape in Quetta and impacting the balance of power in the National Assembly.
The outcome of the case will not only determine Bazai’s future in politics but will also serve as a precedent for similar cases of party dissidence and disqualification within Pakistan’s political framework.
The ECP’s decision, expected in the coming weeks, will clarify whether Bazai will retain his position or be removed from office.
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