The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday filed a disqualification reference against its senator from Sindh, Saifullah Abro, for defying party orders in a crucial Senate vote.

The reference was filed by PTI’s parliamentary leader Ali Zafar in the Election Commission.

The case stems from Abro’s decision to vote in favour of the 27th Constitutional Amendment — a move the party says went against clear instructions.

According to the PTI, Abro had already served a show-cause notice for breaking party discipline, but his vote prompted the leadership to seek his removal from the Senate, citing floor-crossing.

The party has also removed him from its parliamentary WhatsApp group.

The decision to file the reference was approved during a PTI parliamentary party meeting in Islamabad on December 24.

Earlier, on November 10, Senator Abro announced his resignation from his Senate seat after voting in favour of the 27th amendment despite party policy.

He stated that his vote was cast out of respect for the Pakistan Armed Forces and Field Marshal Asim Munir, emphasising that the decision was based on national interest, not personal or political gain.

Abro also alleged that during the amendment approval process, 10 members of his family had been taken into custody, but the party had not raised its voice on his behalf.

Senator Saifullah Abro hails from Larkana and was elected from Sindh’s technocrats’ seat in March 2021.