Imran tells ECP to de-notify him from NA-45

PTI chief earlier informed commission he participated in by-poll to demonstrate his party’s countrywide support

ISLAMABAD:

To avert the question about his eligibility or for some other reason, PTI chairman and deposed prime minister Imran Khan has informed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to de-notify him as the MNA from the NA-45 Kurram-I constituency wherein he was notified as the returned candidate in by-election held in the month of October last year.

“We reiterate that our client shall not be taking oath as a member of the National Assembly with respect to NA-45, Kurram-I,” read a letter sent by Imran's counsel Salman Akram Raja to the ECP.

The PTI chief's letter written to the commission also stated that it must de-notify him as the returned candidate from the tribal constituency forthwith.

Imran, in his earlier letter dated February 20, had written that he had participated in the by-poll to demonstrate that the PTI had an overwhelming support of the people in all parts of the country.

He added that the PTI was the only true federal political party.

“The term of the present National Assembly is to expire on 18.08.2023. The fact that the notification dated 19.01.2023 was issued with a delay of over three months after the conduct of [the] by-election in October 2022 reflects malice. The fact that fresh general elections for the National Assembly are necessary [has] been established by the success of the undersigned in the by-elections,” he continued.

Imran's legal team, led by Raja, has also submitted these letters to the Islamabad High Court, which is hearing a petition seeking the disqualification of the PTI chief over concealing his alleged daughter, Tyrian Jade White, in his nomination papers.

Likewise, Imran has also filed a reply with the IHC, wherein it was stated that an MNA-elect did not hold a public office and, therefore, no petition under Article 199 could be maintained against him.

“In any case, the answering respondent [Imran] is not even an MNA-elect after having intimated to the ECP of his intention not to make oath with respect to NA-45 (Kurram-I). The inaction on the part of the ECP is collusive and cannot be held against the answering respondent. The ECP is under an obligation to act forthwith and announce a date for the by-election for NA-45,” the reply read.