PTI Senator Saifullah Abro Secures Legal Relief as Disqualification Reference Dismissed
In a significant development in Islamabad, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Saifullah Abro has received legal relief after the Senate chairman dismissed a disqualification reference filed against him. The ruling, delivered on Friday, declared the reference non-maintainable on technical grounds, despite allegations that Abro violated party discipline by voting in favor of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Procedural Flaws Lead to Dismissal
According to parliamentary sources, the reference was rejected because it was signed by the PTI's parliamentary leader instead of the party head. This omission constitutes a procedural requirement under the Constitution's defection clause, specifically Article 63-A. As a result, the reference was deemed defective and was dismissed without being forwarded to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Under the defection provisions of Article 63-A, a disqualification reference must carry the signature of the party head. The failure to meet this mandatory requirement rendered the reference technically flawed, leading the Senate chairman to drop the case entirely.
Background of the Disqualification Reference
Earlier this month, PTI had moved a reference seeking Abro's disqualification for allegedly defying the party line by voting in favor of the 27th Constitutional Amendment. PTI Senator Ali Zafar had publicly confirmed the move, writing on social media platform X: "Saifullah Abro went against party line by voting in favour of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, for which a reference for his disqualification has been filed."
The reference, submitted by Zafar, invoked Article 63-A of the Constitution, which deals with disqualification on the grounds of defection. It stated that a PTI meeting was held before the vote on the amendment, in which it was "explicitly decided and communicated to all PTI senators in writing" that they were to oppose and not vote in favor of any bill relating to the amendment. The direction was also issued formally by Ali Zafar to all PTI senators, including Abro.
The reference further emphasized that the instructions were widely published in the media, and the record confirms that this direction was properly conveyed to Abro and that he was fully aware of it.
Alleged Violations by Senator Abro
Despite these clear directives, Abro voted in favor of the amendment twice:
- First on November 10, 2025, when the Senate initially passed the bill.
- Again on November 13, 2025, when the House reconsidered it after changes.
The reference stated that at both instances, Abro voted contrary to the "clear, unanimous and duly communicated direction" of the PTI and its parliamentary leadership. However, due to the technical flaw in the submission process, these allegations were not pursued further, allowing Abro to avoid potential disqualification.
