The Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday disqualified former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan from holding political office.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief has been disqualified for five years under Article 63(i)(iii) for submitting a false statement in the Toshakhana reference case, Dawn reported.
Khan’s party immediately rejected the decision and decided to file an appeal to the Islamabad High Court. The party also called on supporters to take to the streets, Al Jazeera reported.
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 the declarations submitted to the commission.
The commission’s decision is “embarrassing” and a “slap in the face” of Pakistan’s people, Al Jazeera quoted PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry as saying.
“This verdict is not an attack on Imran Khan only. It is an attack on Pakistan’s constitution and its people,” he said.
Khan, who was removed from his office in April through a parliamentary vote of no confidence, has accused the commission of bias, and has singled out its chief, Sikandar Sultan Raja, of prejudice against him and his party.
