ECP asks Imran to submit reply in removal from PTI leadership case

Electoral watchdog notifies petitioner to inform whether he is interested in pursuing case or not

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to submit a reply in the case regarding his removal from the party leadership,

During the hearing of the case in the ECP, former prime minister’s lawyer Barrister Gohar said that the petitioner Advocate Muhammad Afaq Ahmed is not appearing before the commission, therefore, the case should be dismissed for non-compliance.

Following this, the ECP Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) member Justice (retired) Ikramullah Khan directed the lawyer to give arguments for the case and stated that the electoral watchdog will look into that matter.

Read Imran disqualified

Advocate Gohar maintained that the Lahore High Court (LHC) has stopped the ECP from proceeding against the PTI chief, adding that the court referred the matter to the full bench.

On this, the ECP member asked to provide a copy of the petition filed in the LHC and added that the ruling seems to be to the extent of giving a declaration of disqualification.

The electoral watchdog member further told the PTI lawyer that “you all reach high courts as soon as an application is admitted”, adding that "after a stay order, all we have to do is come, sit and then leave".

During the hearing, the ECP Balochistan member also said that the LHC did not stop the case from proceeding.

The ousted premier’s lawyer added that in the present case, the electoral watchdog has taken a suo motu, to which Justice (retd) Ikramullah replied that the ECP has no such authority.

The commission then stated that the electoral watchdog is also notifying the petitioner as to inform whether he is interested in pursuing the case or not.

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Subsequently, the ECP adjourned the hearing till March 7, directing Imran to submit his reply in the case.

In November 2022, the LHC accepted a petition for hearing, seeking the removal of Imran Khan as party chief after his disqualification in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference.

The petition stated that it was a legal and constitutional requirement for party officeholders to be qualified in accordance with Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

It said that after Imran’s disqualification from the NA-95 constituency following the Toshakhana reference, was “just” for him to be de-notified as the PTI chairman and that an order should be issued in this regard.