IHC rejects Imran’s plea to suspend ECP’s disqualification order instantly
The Chief Justice Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah on Monday rejected the PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s petition to suspend the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision of his disqualification in the Toshakhana case and remarked that, “the PTI Chairman is eligible to participate in the NA-45 Karam Agency by-election on October 30.”
On Saturday, Barrister Ali Zafar filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court on behalf of Imran Khan, in which the decision of the Election Commission was requested to be annulled.
A hearing was held today on the petition against the disqualification of Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the case.
After hearing the arguments CJ IHC rejected the Imran Khan’s petition against ECP’s decision of disqualification.
Imran Khan disqualified
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday disqualified PTI supremo Imran Khan for five years in Toshakhana case filed against him by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) citing, corrupt practices by party chairman.
The Toshakhana reference filed for the disqualification of the former Prime Minister was sent to the ECP by the Speaker of the National Assembly on the request of 5 members of the ruling coalition, on which the decision was reserved on September 19.
A 5-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja gave an unanimous decision, but 4 members were present when the decision was announced as Punjab member Babar Hassan Bharwana was not part of the commission today due to ill health.
The Election Commission while announcing the decision said that, “if Imran Khan is involved in corrupt practices, criminal proceedings will be initiated against him.”
The unanimous decision reads, “Imran Khan has been declared ineligible to be elected as a member of Majlis Shura (Parliament) or Provincial Assembly under any law for the duration of the current assembly under Article 63 (13) for submitting a false affidavit in Toshakhana refrence.”
Background:
National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf sent a reference to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the disqualification of PTI chief Imran Khan for selling presents from Toshakhana during his government.
In the reference, it was said that Imran Khan did not disclosed the details of gifts taken from Toshakhana and the money received from the sale of these gifts in his assets.
Earlier in April, the former prime minister had responded to the controversy over the gifts found in the Toshakhana during an informal media interaction, saying that these were his gifts and it was his choice whether to keep them or not.
