The references were sent by former prime minister Imran Khan and handed over to the speaker by the party's chief whip in the house, Amir Dogar.

The references were filed under Article 63-A of the Pakistani Constitution, which suggests disqualification of an MNA on the grounds of defection for not obeying the parliamentary party's directions in the election of the prime minister, chief minister or vote of confidence or no confidence.

The references said that the dissidents were exposed via “large-scale broadcast and videos” to have quit the PTI, joined the opposition for the no-trust motion against the premier and no denials or rebuttals were issued to the acts of defection, adding that show-cause notices were sent to the rebel lawmakers to clarify why declarations to de-seat them from the NA should not be issued against them but they had failed to respond to them or clarify their position.

They further stated that the members had failed to adhere to their "sacred duty" and had breached the confidence of the PTI, the voters and the public by switching their loyalties to another party, causing "irreparable loss to the democratic system and blatantly injured the cause and object of the PTI”, the references read.

They requested the speaker to initiate proceedings to de-seat the members under Article 63-A as they had defected from the PTI.

Last month, it was revealed that at least 24 PTI MNAs were staying at the Sindh House in Islamabad.

Raja Riaz, a member of the rebel PTI faction known as the Jahangir Tareen group, had claimed that they moved to the Sindh House due to “security concerns”, adding that the 24 PTI dissident MNAs present there would vote on the no-trust motion “according to their conscience”.