CEC, his family’s lives in ‘danger’

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja's life is in “danger” as PTI activists are threatening him on social media following the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualifying their party chief and ex-premier Imran Khan.

Sources said the CEC and his family had received life threats.

A person named Khurram has posted a threatening video on social media.

Besides, prominent leaders of the PTI are also sharing threatening posts.

The sources said the “irresponsible” statements of the central leadership of the PTI had promoted intolerance in society.

This was the result of Imran's extremist political training, they added.

The sources hoped that courts would take immediate notice of these threats.

Read more: CEC flags Imran’s win in recent by-polls

They added that the state was considering recalling those, who were threatening violence while sitting abroad, under the prevailing laws.

On Friday, the ECP disqualified the PTI chairman under Article 63(1)(p) as it announced its verdict in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference.

A bench of the ECP declared Imran’s National Assembly seat vacant as it unanimously decided that he had misled officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime minister.

The written ruling read that PTI chief had “intentionally and deliberately” violated the provisions contained in sections 137, 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017 as he submitted a “false statement” and “incorrect declaration” to the ECP in the details of his assets and liabilities filed by him for the year 2020-21.

It added that the PTI chief had attracted disqualification under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution read with Sections 137 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017.

“Consequently he ceases to be a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and his seat has become vacant accordingly,” it read.

The ruling stated that as Imran had made false statements and an incorrect declaration, therefore he also committed the “offence of corrupt practices” defined under Sections 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, punishable under Section 174 of the Elections Act, 2017.

The commission ordered the initiation of criminal proceedings against the ex-premier for submitting a false statement under Section 190(2) of the Elections Act.

On Saturday, the PTI chairman approached the Islamabad High Court against the ECP’s decision to disqualify him.

However, the Registrar’s Office raised several objections, including not attaching the biometric verification of the petitioner and a certified copy of the decision.

Despite the PTI chief’s insistence that his plea should be taken up on Saturday, the Registrar’s Office objected that the matter was not serious enough to be heard immediately.

The hearing of the petition will be held on Monday (today) along with the objections of the Registrar’s Office by a single-judge bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah.