Pakistan's ruling party asks election body to suspend lawmaker who defected on constitutional reforms

The Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly has sent a third letter to the electoral watchdog regarding the disqualification reference filed against a ruling government lawmaker, Adil Khan Bazai, for defying party leadership's instructions by not voting for either the 2024-25 budget or the 26th constitutional amendment this year.

The NA Secretariat's letter to he Secretary of the Election Commission, November 1, 2024.NA Secretariat

A defecting member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Bazai's disqualification has been sought by the National Assembly Secretariat. Muhammad Mushtaq, National Assembly advisor on legislation, sent the letter to the Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The letter states that PML-N President Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had submitted a reference to the Speaker seeking Bazai's disqualification under Article 63A of the Constitution, requesting that this matter be resolved expeditiously.

Bazai's whereabouts unknown

A three-member bench of the ECP, chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner, heard the reference filed by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif seeking Bazai's disqualification on Wednesday.

During the hearing, both Bazai and PML-N lawyers were present, though when questioned about Bazai's whereabouts, his brother admitted they had no information on his current location.

The Election Commission instructed that a copy of the reference be provided to Bazai's lawyer and directed him to submit his response by November 5.

Running with the hare, hunting with the hound?

Bazai, who was elected as a Member of the National Assembly from constituency NA-262, defied party leadership's instructions by not voting for either the 2024-25 budget or the 26th constitutional amendment this year.

He has frequently aligned himself with opposition parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

Adil Khan Bazai / X

While National Assembly records show he ran on a PML-N ticket and is officially registered as a party member, Bazai disputes this.

He claims he won as an independent candidate in the February 8 election before joining the PML-N, submitting an affidavit to the ECP within three days of the polls.