ECP disqualifies PTI Senator Murad Saeed over May 9 conviction

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday disqualified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Murad Saeed following his conviction in a May 9 case related to the 2023 violent protests.

In a notification, the electoral body stated that Saeed was sentenced to 10 years in prison by an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, leading to his disqualification under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution.

Following the decision, the Senate’s general seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been declared vacant.

Murad Saeed was elected senator from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in July 2025 but was unable to take oath as he remained in hiding. In mid-February, he had submitted his resignation from the Senate in a letter addressed to the party leadership.

In his resignation, also shared on the party’s official X account, Saeed termed the parliament “illegitimate” and said he was stepping down as a protest. He criticised the political system and claimed that lawmakers demanding basic rights were being detained.

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The May 9, 2023 events refer to violent protests that erupted across the country following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, during which public properties and military installations were attacked, including the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore, also known as Jinnah House.

The unrest was triggered by the arrest of the former prime minister from the Islamabad High Court premises in a corruption case.

In the aftermath, several PTI leaders and workers were detained, with some later released on bail, while others remain incarcerated. Imran Khan, who was removed from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has been in custody since August 2023 facing multiple charges.