PTI decides to challenge Imran’s disqualification in IHC: sources

Former PM advises protesters against violence; policy statement on ECP ruling to be issued at 8.30pm

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to move Islamabad High Court (IHC) against Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict to disqualify former premier Imran Khan in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference.

According to Express News, PTI Chairman Imran Khan chaired a meeting of the party leaders in Islamabad on Friday to deliberate on the ECP ruling and directed his legal team to prepare a petition to be filed in the IHC.

Insiders said the huddle also reviewed the protests held by PTI supporters in major cities across the country against the ECP verdict.

During the huddle, the party leaders informed the former premier that intensity of the protests is expected to increase by evening.

Also read: ECP disqualifies Imran Khan in Toshakhana reference

The PTI chief during the meeting directed his supporters to stage ‘peaceful protests’ across the country and not to resort to violence.

PTI sources said that the party leaders also reviewed the preparations for upcoming Islamabad long march aimed at forcing the government to announce early polls.

Imran said he was expecting his disqualification in the verdict announced by “biased” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.

While terming the CEC an ally of coalition government, Imran said ECP’s decisions do not have any credibility.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry has said in a tweet that an important message of the party chief to the nation will be released to media at 8.30pm today.

عمران خان آج رات قوم کے نام پیغام دیں گے ان کا پیغا 830 منٹ پر میڈیا کو جاری کیا جائیگا

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 21, 2022

Separately, the PTI-dominated legislative assemblies of Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan have summoned emergency sessions to give strong reaction to the ECP verdict against Imran, according to an official party statement.