ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict disqualify him in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference.
Imran Khan filed the petition through his legal counsel Barrister Ali Zafar. The IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah has fixed the petition for hearing on October 24. The petitioner prayed that the ECP’s verdict be declared “against the settled principles of law” on Article 63.
The petitioner requested the court to declare the ECP’s order “misconceived” and set aside it. The court has also been prayed to declare that the ECP lacked the jurisdiction to decide “any questions of ‘corrupt practices and disqualification’” under the Election Act and Election Rules, 2017. The petition further prayed the court to suspend the operation of the ECP’s order and restrain further proceedings by the ECP or its behest till disposal of the instant plea.
A four-member bench of the ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on Friday disqualified Imran Khan under Article 63(1)(p) in the Toshakhana reference holding that he had misled officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the Prime Minister. The ECP ordered initiation of criminal proceedings against Imran Khan for submitting a false statement under Section 190(2) of the Elections Act. The ECP also declared Imran Khan’s National Assembly seat vacant.