The election commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified former Prime Minister Imran Khan over the alleged charges of “corrupt practices” – days after he won a majority of seats in by-polls.
The case against Khan was filed in August by a member of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), contending that the former prime minister had bought gifts given by foreign dignitaries from the state gift depository (also called Toshakhana) but did not disclose the assets in declarations submitted to the commission.
However, Faisal Fareed Chaudhry, part of the PTI’s legal team called the ECP’s decision “embarrassing” and a “slap in the face” for Pakistan’s people.
“We were awaiting the detailed verdict before filing an appeal to the Islamabad High Court. He also said they planned to question the commission’s scope to deliver such a verdict,” he said.
“We will challenge their jurisdiction, their mandate in issuing this decision,” he added.
Khan was ousted from power in April by a no-confidence vote in the parliament after 174 votes in the 342 members voted against him.
After the removal of his government, Khan has been holding rallies across the country, demanding early polls.
His narrative has won him large swaths of support, as the PTI won big in by-elections that took place in July and October and many held protests against ECP’s move.
It is pertinent to mention that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money laundering and terrorism financing watchdog removed Pakistan from its grey list on the same day.