The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday disqualified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Murad Saeed following his conviction related to the May 9, 2023 violent protests.
In an official notification, the ECP stated that Saeed was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi. This conviction led to his disqualification under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution. Consequently, the Senate seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) that Saeed held has been declared vacant.
Murad Saeed was elected as a senator from KP in July 2025 but never took oath as he remained in hiding. In mid-February, he submitted his resignation through a letter addressed to the PTI chairman. The letter, also shared on the party’s social media platform, criticized the legitimacy of the current parliament and accused it of betraying the people’s mandate. Saeed stated that lawmakers demanding rights for the “elected and real prime minister” were being confined for protesting, and declared his resignation as an act of protest.
The May 9, 2023 events refer to widespread violent protests triggered by the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. These protests involved attacks on public properties and military installations, including the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore, also known as Jinnah House. Khan’s arrest took place at the Islamabad High Court premises in a graft case, sparking unrest across the country.
While several PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrests, many remain incarcerated. Imran Khan, who was removed from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, has been imprisoned since August 2023. He faces multiple charges ranging from corruption to terrorism.
