PHC asks PM Imran to submit reply in disqualification case

Petition seeks removal of premier for hiding assets of wife in 2018 nomination papers

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) has asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to submit reply in the three weeks in a disqualification writ petition filed against him for not fulfilling the requirements of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

A two member bench of PHC also sought reply from the Election Commission of Pakistan in the disqualification plea against the PM.

PHC Justice Qaiser Rashid and Justice Muhmamad Ibrahim Khan heard the writ petition of the former candidate of Pakistan Justice Democratic Party Inam Ullah.

Inam told the court in the writ petition that during filing of the nomination papers for the National Assembly NA-35 in 2018, Imran Khan had not declared his US based daughter’s name Tyrian White and also the assets of the Bushra Bibi, so he could not fall under the article of the 62/63, so he should be disqualified on the said constituency and the election be termed nullified.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan does not qualify to hold public office according to Article 62/63, so the Election Commission of Pakistan should declare the election on the NA-35 unlawful,” the applicant said in the writ petition.

The petitioner urged PHC that as there is a precedent that ex-PM Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for not fulfilling the standards of Article 62/63, so Imran Khan should also be removed from the office.

Later PHC asked ECP and PM Imran Khan to submit their replies on the writ petition with three weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2019.