ECP decides to take action against Imran

Withholds Imran's victory notification over failure to furnish details within three days

ISLAMABAD:

Another sword of disqualification is potentially hanging over PTI chief Imran Khan as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday decided to take action against the former prime minister for failing to submit details of the expenses incurred during the by-elections.

According to the poll supervisory body, the PTI chief has not yet submitted the details of election expenses from six constituencies except NA-24 Charsadda, which were also not furnished within the period stipulated by the electoral laws.

Consequently, the ECP had held back the issuance of notification of Imran's victory on the six seats over his failure to provide the details of the election expenses during the by-election.

According to the election rules, it is mandatory to submit the expenditure details within the days after the election. In the past, the failure to do so has also led to the disqualifications of candidates.

Moreover, the Supreme Court has also on many occasions barred the losing candidate from contesting the upcoming elections. In light of the court decision, Imran Khan can also be declared ineligible for the upcoming elections.

Plea to block Imran’s victory notification

Separately, the ECP also fixed PML-N’s plea to block the victory notification of the PTI chairman for a hearing next week.

Read Disqualification sword hangs on Imran over failure to submit poll expenses details

The petition, filed by PML-N MNA Ali Gohar Baloch, has pleaded with the ECP to stop the victory notification of Imran Khan in the by-elections on the basis of his disqualification in the Toshakhana case.

It is pertinent to note that the Election Commission of Pakistan had last month disqualified the PTI chief in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p) for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”.

Later, the electoral watchdog notified the results of the by-polls held on October 16 on all seats except for the six NA seats won by the former prime minister. It also de-notified Imran Khan as MNA from constituency NA-95 of Mianwali I with “immediate effect” following his disqualification in the Toshakhana Reference.