Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has formally submitted a reference to Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani seeking the disqualification of Senator Saifullah Abro for allegedly defecting from the party line by voting in favour of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
PTI Senator Ali Zafar, sharing the declaration of defection on X, said Abro violated party policy by supporting the constitutional amendment, adding that a reference for his disqualification has been filed under Article 63A of the Constitution.
Voting on the 27th Constitutional Amendment was held in the Senate on November 10, 2025. PTI opposed the amendment, but Abro voted in its favour.
In the reference addressed to the Senate chairman, Zafar stated that, in his capacity as PTI’s parliamentary leader in the Senate, he was submitting a declaration that Senator Saifullah Abro had defected from the party. He said the declaration was being forwarded to the Chief Election Commissioner for placing it before the Election Commission in accordance with Article 63A.
Zafar said that ahead of the voting, a meeting of the PTI parliamentary party was held in which it was clearly decided, and conveyed in writing to all PTI senators, that they would oppose and not vote in favour of any legislation related to the 27th Amendment. He added that the record confirmed Abro was fully aware of the party’s direction.
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Responding to the reference, Abro told that PTI did not oppose the 27th Constitutional Amendment and rejected the allegation of defection. He criticised Ali Zafar, saying he was not capable of leading.
Abro claimed he had not received any letter, show-cause notice or formal communication from the party regarding the matter, adding that PTI had become a “social media party” that makes announcements online rather than through official channels.
The senator also said PTI founder Imran Khan had proposed his name for the chairmanship of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, but alleged that party members, in coordination with treasury benches, deprived him of the position.
