Islamabad, May 20 (IANS): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday declared 25 dissident members of PTI de-seated while announcing its verdict in a case pertaining to the dissident members of the Pakistan Punjab Assembly (MPA), the media reported.

The ECP announced the unanimous verdict while accepting the reference against PTI dissidents who voted for Hamza Shehbaz in the election of Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister, sent by Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Geo News reported.

"MPAs defected from the party by voting in favour of Hamza Shehbaz," the ECP said in the verdict.

In the election for the chief minister's slot on April 16, PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz got 197 votes as opposed to the required number of 186 in the House of 371, meaning the support of PTI dissidents was key to his victory.

Hamza will now lose the majority as the dissidents have been de-seated. The verdict has gained special significance after the Supreme Court's interpretation of Article 63(A), holding that the votes of dissident MPs cannot not be counted.

The ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, had reserved the verdict on Tuesday after listening to the arguments of PTI lawmakers, Geo News reported.

The dissidents had argued that since they did not get any clear policy guidelines from the parliamentary party and in the absence of any direction, the party cannot move against them.