Imran clears IHC registrar's objections on disqualification plea

Presents verified copy of ECP’s decision, validates biometrics through attorney

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Wednesday submitted a certified copy of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after the Registrar’s Office had raised objections to his petition against the ECP’s disqualification decision.

Last week, the former premier had approached the IHC, requesting them to declare the ECP’s decision null and void. However, the Registrar’s Office had raised objections regarding Imran’s biometrics and the certification of the submitted ECP verdict.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah had emphasised that the court needed a certified copy of the judgment before issuing an injunction.

Imran presented a verified copy of the electoral watchdog’s decision today and validated his biometrics through his attorney.

He also challenged the ECP’s order to remove him as a member of the National Assembly (MNA) from the NA-95 constituency and requested that the high court declare his removal null and void.

Read Imran still qualified to contest elections

He maintained that the ECP had disqualified him from NA-5, and de-notified him from NA-95. He furthered that he was disqualified from NA-95 on October 21, and this was rectified on October 24.

Earlier this week, the ECP de-notified Imran Khan as an MNA soon after it issued the written judgment of his disqualification.

The PTI chief's NA-95 Mianwali-I seat was declared vacant under Article 63(1)(p) read with Section 137, 167 and 173 of the Elections Act 2017, after being disqualified in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference.

A four-member bench of the ECP had three days ago 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.