The Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday disqualified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan for five years under Article 63(1)(P) for misdeclaration in the Toshakhana reference.
Article 63 (1) (p) of the Constitution states that an individual 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”.
A four-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, announced the verdict at the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad.
The decision was taken unanimously by the five-member bench. However, the member from Punjab was not present for today’s announcement.
According to the verdict, criminal proceedings will be initiated against Imran for misdeclaration.
The reference was filed in August against Imran by the coalition government, for “not sharing details” of Toshakhana gifts and proceeds from their alleged sale. Lawmakers from the Pakistan Democratic Movement — the ruling alliance — had submitted the reference to National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who had subsequently forwarded it to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja for further action.
Reaction
Soon after the electoral body’s decision, former minister Fawad Chaudhry urged the people to take to the streets to protest against the verdict.
In a similar vein, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said
On the other hand, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted, the the ECP has disqualified the former premier who will now “spread lies about alleged corruption of his political opponents has been caught red handed”.
