PHC halts ECP action against PTI’s Zartaj Gul

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday barred the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from taking further action against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Zartaj Gul in a disqualification case.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmed and Justice Ijaz Khan issued the order while hearing a petition filed on behalf of
Zartaj Gul. The court restrained the ECP from proceeding under its August 5 notification, which had suspended several PTI members.

The petitioner’s counsel told the court that the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Faisalabad had sentenced Gul to 10 years in
prison. Following the verdict, the ECP announced her disqualification along with other PTI leaders. Justice Waqar Ahmed questioned why the case was not filed before the Lahore High Court (LHC).
In response, the lawyer pointed out that similar petitions from PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz were already being heard by the PHC since they were also disqualified under the same ruling.