Imran Khan challenges ECP Toshakhana verdict in IHC
Taliban of Pakistan Imran Khan, the chairman of Insaf and a former prime minister, contested the ECP decision disqualifying him in the Toshakhana reference in the Islamabad High Court on Saturday.
Imran said in his plea that the ECP lacks the authority to rule on disqualification and corrupt acts.
The petitioner requested that the court nullify the ECP ruling.
The IHC registrar objected to the PTI chairman’s plea, claiming that his biometrics result was not confirmed.
The court denies PTI’s request
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) declined Imran Khan’s request to begin the hearing of his petition against being disqualified by ECP in the Toshakhana case today, saying the case’s first hearing would now take place the day after tomorrow instead (Monday, October 24, 2022).
Imran Khan, the head of the PTI and a former prime minister, was found to be ineligible in the Toshakhana reference by a four-member panel of the Election Commission of Pakistan, which is chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The panel also ordered criminal proceedings against Khan under Article 63(1). (P).
According to the written order of the ECP, Imran Khan has engaged in “corrupt practice by making false statements and erroneous declarations” in violation of Sections 137, 167, and 173 of the Election Act.
The order adds that Imran purposefully withheld the details of the Toshakhana gifts while declaring his assets. “We are of the considered opinion that the respondent has become disqualified under Article 63(1)(P) of the Constitution read with Sections 137,167, and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, consequently he ceases to be a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and his seat has become vacant accordingly,” the order states.
In accordance with Section 190(2) of the Elections Act of 2017, the agency is mandated to file a lawsuit and conduct related action.
A person is “for the time being disqualified from being elected or chosen as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) or of a provincial assembly under any law for the time being in force,” according to Article 63 (1) (P) of the Constitution.
On September 19 last year, the ECP reserved its decision in the Toshakhana case.
The coalition government filed the case against the PTI chairman for “not providing information” about Toshakhana gifts and money received from their purported sale.
The delay in publishing the written decision of the ECP in the Toshakhana matter was criticized earlier on Saturday by PTI leaders.
“Why is the written ruling from the election commission being withheld? The election commission found the PTI leader guilty of making “false claims and erroneous declarations,” the party leader Asad Umar asked on Twitter a day later.
Imran Ismail, a senior member of the PTI, claimed that the ECP was a “subservient” organization to the PDM’s opponents and that the delay in providing the written verdict was “shameful.”
Ismail continued, “Chief Election Commissioner is awaiting a written decision from London or Bilawal House.”
