'Shameful': PTI reacts to Imran's disqualification in Toshakhana reference

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders reacted strongly to chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan's disqualification in the Toshakhana reference and termed the election commission verdict 'shameful'.

“We had no hope of anything good from [them]. The ECP did exactly what we expected of them,” said former information minister and PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry.

Chaudhry furthered that cases of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari were not being heard in the ECP, adding that the electoral watchdog’s target is Imran Khan.

“Can they disqualify 22 crore people of Pakistan by disqualifying Imran Khan? The decision to disqualify 22 crore people of Pakistan is shameful,” he said.

The former information minister also urged people to come out for their rights and protest.

"This is the beginning of a revolution in Pakistan. People of Pakistan, PTI and the entire country reject this decision," he added.

The PTI leader also said that the verdict is “not an attack on Imran Khan, but on the honour, Constitution, law and the institutions of Pakistan.”

“Imran Khan won by a two-thirds majority just a week ago, who are you to decide?” asked Chaudhry.

PTI leader Asad Umar also criticized the verdict and said the decision will be challenged in the high court as soon as a copy of the order is received.

“We expected this verdict. Our lawyers are prepared, the petition is ready and the decision will be challenged in the high court,” he said.

Umar furthered that the decision will be “blown up”, adding that whoever is dreaming about “minus one” and “minus Imran Khan” should be clear that "it is not happening".

PTI leader Shafqat Mahmood took to Twitter and criticized the verdict against the PTI chief, calling it “a black day for Pakistan”.

“Condemnable decision by ECP to disqualify Imran Khan. History will remember this commission as anti-people and a handmaiden of looters and plunderers. Black day for Pakistan,” said Mahmood.

PTI leader and former governor Sindh Imran Ismail condemned the verdict and urged people to “leave for Pakistan”.

“Imran Khan is the name of an honest and trustworthy person. The one who ruled the hearts of crores was disqualified today. It was known that a compromised EC [election commission] would give this decision. The countdown to the imported government has begun. All leave for Pakistan,” the PTI leader said in a tweet.

Reacting to the decision, PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that “today we all say that we do not accept the minus one decision”.

“Pakistan strongly rejects today's decision. Pakistan's democracy cannot run without Imran Khan. This injustice to Pakistan's most beloved leader is unacceptable,” he vowed.

“We are going to challenge this decision in the Supreme Court. There should be no doubt that Imran Khan is our red line,” he added.

PTI K-P President Pervez Khattak reacted: “Toshakhana case against Imran Khan is absolutely baseless, who is our read line so watch out.”

PTI senior leader Shahbaz Gill said the PTI would approach every forum against the verdict, adding that Imran has been disqualified from just one seat, not politics.

Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, Imran Khan’s lawyer, reacted that he wonder why the ECP was not issuing the detailed order, adding that as per his understanding one member has not signed it yet. “If so, how can an incomplete body announce an order? This in itself amounts to patent illegality,” he raised a question.

PTI leader Ali Zaidi also called the verdict “shameless” and said the ECP didn’t disqualify Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and "80% of the current cabinet of looters” but disqualified Imran.

“We have said this before that Imran Khan is our red line and today you have crossed that red line,” he added.

A four-member bench declared Imran’s National Assembly seat vacant as it unanimously decided that he had provided incorrect information in the case and disqualified him “for the time being”.

The verdict deseated Imran as per Article-63 (A) and ordered the initiation of criminal proceedings against him for submitting a false statement. However, the ECP shied away from declaring the deposed premier disqualified for life.