Islamabad, Aug 23 (HS): The Lahore High Court on Saturday dismissed a petition filed by former Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, challenging his disqualification from the provincial legislature.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had disqualified Bhachar after he was convicted by an anti-terrorism court in connection with the May 9 violence. Bhachar had sought to overturn the ECP decision, but the high court found his plea inadmissible.

According to ARY News, Justice Khalid Ishaq observed that Bhachar has been absconding since his sentencing and has failed to surrender before the law. The court held that the ECP’s notification was directly linked to the terrorism court’s ruling, adding that the petitioner could not seek relief while avoiding punishment.

The Election Commission had earlier issued disqualification orders against three PTI legislators—Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, and Ahmad Chattha—following their conviction in cases related to the May 9 riots. Their respective seats were declared vacant.

Anti-terrorism courts in Lahore and Sargodha had sentenced the PTI leaders to 10 years’ imprisonment each for their role in the unrest. Bhachar, regarded as an influential PTI figure in Punjab, is among the central party leaders facing legal consequences after the riots.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar