LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has decided to refer to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) a case against 20 estranged PTI lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly on floor-crossing charges.
According to sources familiar with the development, the PTI’s chief whip Abbas Ali Shah will deliver the reference to Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi. “Upon approval by the speaker, the reference will be sent to the ECP, where the commission is required to rule within a month,” they said.
Members of the PTI who voted in favor of Hamza Shehbaz for the chief minister’s position will face repercussions following the reference. Aleem Khan, Asad Khokhar, Nauman Langrial, Ejaz Alam, Ajmal Cheema, Saeed Akbar, Faisal Jawana, and Zawar Warraich were among those who attended.
However, the reference will not apply to independent candidates Chaudhry Nisar, Ahmed Ali, Jugnu Mohsin, Bilal Asghar Warraich, and Raja Sagheer.
According to sources, the PML-N has decided not to offer any government posts or ministries in the provincial cabinet in light of the decision to file a reference against them.
It is worth noting that Hamza Shehbaz was elected Chief Minister of Punjab during an unprecedented period of violence in the Punjab Assembly, culminating in attacks on Speaker Parvez Elahi and Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari.
Dissident PTI lawmakers associated with the Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan groups played a critical role in the PML-N leader’s election.
