ISLAMABAD: In a major legal victory for the ruling coalition on Friday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), in a consensus verdict, disqualified former Prime Minister Imran Khan and ruled that the PTI chairman is no more a member National Assembly.
The ECP stated that Imran Khan submitted a false affidavit and found involved in corrupt practices.
The verdict was announced amid tight security in the Red Zone where at least 1,100 police officials were deployed under the command of a senior superintendent of police to control the law and order situation in the area. The officer was assisted by five superintendents of police, six deputy superintendents of police.
The ECP had reserved its verdict in the Toshakhana case on September 19 after arguments were completed from both sides. A five-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case.
Meanwhile, reacting strongly to the party chairman’s disqualification, PTI leader Fawad Hussain Chaudhry slammed the ECP.
Fawad Chaudry said the Election Commission’s attitude had been the worst. “We never pinned any hopes on it.”
“This is a shameful decision. They have shamed the 220-million-strong-nation.”
Fawad termed the decision as an assault on the institutions of Pakistan.
During the last hearing of the case, which took place on September 19, Khan’s counsel Ali Zafar admitted that his client had sold at least four presents he had received during 2018-19.
