Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan has formally submitted a disqualification reference to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against 26 members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), following an incident of chaos and vandalism in the assembly last week.
Sources confirmed that Malik Ahmed Khan personally filed the reference with the ECP. The action comes in response to disorderly conduct by opposition lawmakers during the Punjab Assembly’s budget session on June 27, which saw scenes of uproar and damage to assembly property.
In reaction to the disruptive behavior, the Speaker had already suspended the membership of these 26 SIC members. On June 28, Malik Ahmed Khan publicly announced his intention to take the matter further by sending a formal disqualification reference to the Election Commission, a move now officially completed.
The Speaker’s decision has heightened political tension in the provincial assembly and drawn significant public and media attention. The disqualification reference aims to remove the suspended lawmakers from their seats, citing misconduct and violation of assembly decorum as grounds for disqualification under parliamentary rules.
This development marks a serious escalation in the standoff between the treasury benches and opposition members aligned with the SIC. Political analysts note that the case could set an important precedent for handling disruptive conduct within legislative bodies in Pakistan, especially if the ECP decides to proceed with the disqualification process.
The situation remains dynamic, and further responses from the SIC and other opposition parties are expected in the coming days.
