ISLAMABAD, Dec 09 (NNI): The Supreme Court of Pakistan has reinstated the membership of Adil Khan Bazai, a member of the National Assembly (MNA) from the Balochistan constituency NA-262, after suspending the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to deseat him on Monday.
The case was heard by a three-member bench led by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.
The ECP had previously disqualified Adil Bazai on November 21, 2024, for allegedly violating party policy of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
The disqualification stemmed from a reference filed by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, accusing Bazai of neglecting party directives by abstaining during voting on a money bill and the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Bazai’s counsel argued before the Supreme Court that his client had never joined the PML-N and described the affidavit submitted in Bazai’s name as fake.
The lawyer requested a forensic audit of the affidavit, citing irregularities such as the absence of notary public details and inconsistencies in the oath commissioner’s record.
The lawyer further asserted that Bazai remained an independent member, as per the National Assembly’s records, until September 27, 2024.
The counsel criticised the ECP for accepting the affidavit without a thorough investigation and noted that the NA Speaker also failed to conduct an inquiry into the reference.
During the earlier ECP hearings, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Sikandar Sultan Raja, and member Nisar Ahmad Durrani questioned Bazai’s prolonged silence on the affidavit matter.
Elected Baloch leader Adil Khan Bazai’s lawyer responded that his client was unaware of the affidavit until it was presented as evidence in ECP.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Adil Khan Bazai’s parliamentary membership has been restored, effectively overturning the ECP’s disqualification ruling. NNI
