ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday disqualified the former Prime Minister and the Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan as the Member of the National Assembly in Toshakhana Reference Case under the Article 63 (1) (p) of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The verdict – reserved on September 19 – was announced by a four-member bench of the ECP headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja in Islamabad.
In its judgment, the ECP ruled that Imran Khan submitted a false affidavit and was found in corrupt practices.
The ECP also ordered to initiate the criminal proceedings against the Chairman PTI over the misdeclaration of his assets.
“The respondent (Imran Khan) has intentionally and deliberately violated the provisions contained Section 137, 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, who has made false State and incorrect declaration before the Commission in the statement of assets and liabilities filed by him for the year 2020-21. Hence, attracts disqualification under Article 63 (1)(p) of the Constitution read with Section 137 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017,” read the written judgment.
The PTI’s Central Secretary General Asad Umar has announced to challenge the ECP’s verdict in the Court and hold Countrywide protests against the decision.
فیصلہ کورٹ میں چیلنج ہو گا. مائنس عمران خان کا خواب انشاءاللہ کبھی نہیں پورا ہو گا
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) October 21, 2022
In July 2022, six MNAs belonging to the ruling parties including Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, Salahuddin Ayubi, Syed Agha Rafiullah, Ali Gohar Khan, Saad Waseem Shaikh, and Agha Hassan Baloch sent a reference to the Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf, seeking disqualification of Imran Khan alleging that he hadn’t shared details of Toshakhana gifts, he received in his capacity as the Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018 and 2019, in his statement of assets submitted to the Election Commission.
They argued that since Imran Khan was not sadiq (truthful) and ameen (righteous) in the light of Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution; therefore, he must be disqualified for life.
In early August, the Speaker forwarded the reference to the ECP which conducted five hearings over the issue.
Advocate Ali Zafar and Barrister Goher Khan represented the Chairman PTI Imran Khan in the Case while Barrister Khalid Ishaq appeared before the ECP on behalf of the coalition government.
The five-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan after hearing arguments from both sides reserved the judgement on September 19.
