Adil Khan Bazai

Adil Khan Bazai was born in Quetta, Balochistan. He belongs to the Bazai family, a notable family based in Mohalla Bazai Qila, Airport Road, Quetta.^{[citation needed]} He received his education in Quetta.^{[citation needed]}

Before entering national politics, Adil Khan Bazai served as an Advisor to the Chief Minister of Balochistan.^[1] He was active in Balochistan's political landscape for several years before contesting general elections.

In the 2024 Pakistani general election, Bazai contested from NA-262 Quetta-I as an independent candidate with the support of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He won the seat with 20,278 votes, defeating the runner-up Malik Sikandar Khan of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), who received 12,887 votes.^[2][3]

After the election, Bazai claimed to have joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), in line with the practice of most other PTI-supported independent candidates. He posted a photograph of a signed affidavit confirming his membership of the SIC on X.^[4] However, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the official records of the National Assembly stated that he had joined Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N).^[5]

Like other SIC members, Bazai did not vote in favour of the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan. As a result, Nawaz Sharif, the president of PML-N, filed a reference with Ayaz Sadiq, the Speaker of the National Assembly, seeking Bazai's disqualification on grounds of floor-crossing. On 21 October 2024, Sadiq wrote to the ECP requesting Bazai's disqualification.^[6] On 21 November 2024, the ECP officially disqualified Bazai and declared his seat vacant.^[7]

Bazai challenged the ECP's disqualification order in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. On 9 December 2024, the Supreme Court suspended the ECP's order and provisionally reinstated his membership.^[8] In its final ruling on 12 December 2024, the Supreme Court overturned the ECP's disqualification decision and restored Bazai's National Assembly membership as an independent candidate, rather than as a member of PML-N.^[9] Subsequently, the ECP issued a formal notification reinstating Bazai as the independent returned candidate from NA-262 Quetta-I.^[10]

• Bazai, Adil (23 February 2024). "Tweet announcing joining of Sunni Ittehad Council". X. Retrieved 13 May 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
• "NA-262 - Quetta 1". Dunya News. 10 February 2024. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
• "NA-262 Quetta 1". Geo News. 10 February 2024. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
• "Profile: Mr. Adil Khan Bazai". National Assembly of Pakistan. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
• "Govt takes action against MNA Adil Bazai for skipping vote on 26th amendment". Dunya News. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
• Ijaz, Raja Mohsin (21 November 2024). "ECP disqualifies Adil Bazai over floor crossing". ARY News. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
• "SC suspends ECP's decision to disqualify MNA Adil Bazai". ARY News. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
• Mehtab, Umer (12 December 2024). "Supreme Court strikes down ECP verdict, restores Adil Bazai as MNA". Dawn. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
• "Bazai reinstated as MNA". Business Recorder. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.