Islamabad, November 21, 2024 -The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified Adil Bazai, a former Member of National Assembly (MNA) from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), following a reference submitted by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
The ECP’s ruling declared the NA-262 Balochistan seat vacant, as Bazai’s actions were deemed to have violated the party’s policies and directives.
Bazai, who was initially elected as an independent candidate and later joined PML-N, sparked controversy during the budget session when he openly defied the party’s instructions. He notably moved from the government benches to sit with the opposition, a clear breach of PML-N’s stance.
In response to this breach, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif sent a formal reference to Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, urging action against Bazai. The Speaker then forwarded the case to the ECP, which ultimately ruled in favor of disqualifying the defector.
The ECP’s decision also noted that Bazai had failed to support the 26th Constitutional Amendment, further underscoring that parliamentarians must adhere to their party’s directives under the law.
This disqualification marks a significant setback for Bazai’s political career, as the Balochistan seat will now be contested in a by-election.
