Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expelled five members of the National Assembly for voting in favor of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, contrary to party instructions.
According to PTI’s Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, the expelled MNAs include Usman Ali from NA-142 Sahiwal and Mubarak Zeb from NA-8 Bajaur. Zahoor Hussain Qureshi from NA-146 Khanewal, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi from NA-159 Vehari, and Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry from NA-62 Gujrat are also included.
Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that these members were expelled for violating the party’s “loyalty” and “oath.” After their actions, they joined another parliamentary party in the National Assembly.
“It goes without saying that due to their actions, they have become disqualified.”
The 26th Constitutional Amendment introduces changes to Article 175A regarding the appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and other higher courts. According to the amendment, the Judicial Commission will now include, in addition to the Chief Justice and four senior Supreme Court judges, four members of Parliament.
Under this amendment, the Parliamentary Committee for judicial appointments will consist of 12 members — eight from the National Assembly and four from the Senate.
As per the bill, instead of automatically appointing the senior-most judge as Chief Justice, three names will be sent to the Parliamentary Committee. The committee will then recommend one name for the position. Following this, the Prime Minister will advise the President to issue the official notification.