The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has officially expelled five of its National Assembly members for violating party policy. These lawmakers supported the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill despite clear instructions from the party to oppose it.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan issued formal notifications on July 12 confirming the expulsions. The expelled members include Aurangzeb Khan Khichi (NA-159, Vehari IV), Zahoor Elahi (NA-146, Khanewal III), Usman Ali (NA-142, Sahiwal II), Mubarak Zeb (NA-8, Bajaur), and Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry (NA-62, Gujrat I). All five had been elected on PTI tickets.
According to the notice, the party had clearly decided in a parliamentary meeting held in Islamabad on September 2, 2024, to reject the constitutional amendment. Members were instructed to oppose the bill during any voting stage in the National Assembly.
However, these MNAs defied the party’s directive and voted in favor of the bill. The notices state that by doing so, they not only went against PTI’s instructions but also breached their oath and loyalty to the party.
Two lawmakers, Khichi and Zeb, were also accused of joining the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The other three were said to be attending meetings of the ruling party and sitting on the treasury benches.
The 26th Constitutional Amendment, passed in 2024, limits the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s tenure to three years. It also allows the prime minister to choose the next CJP from the top three senior Supreme Court judges.
This law was applied when Justice Yahya Afridi was appointed as the 30th CJP, bypassing the then most senior judge, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.
The PTI has declared the five lawmakers disqualified from the party, citing a complete violation of trust and party commitment.
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