The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which had reserved verdict on the reference filed against 25 PTI members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs) on May 17 (Tuesday), would now announce it today (Friday, May 20, 2022), reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday, quoting its sources.

The ECP was supposed to pronounce the decision yesterday (Wednesday, May 18). 

However, for some reasons, it could not be announced. Now it is binding on the election commission to decide the fate of these ‘turncoats’ tomorrow. 

Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had sent the reference against these MPAs to the ECP in which he sought action against them under article 63-A of the constitution because they had defected to the opposition ahead of the election of the provincial chief minister.

A three-member bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, conducted first hearing of the reference, on May 6, and issued notices to the respondents. 

The ECP conducted total eight hearings of the reference. 

Reporter: Rozeena Ali