The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following a plea filed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan challenging his five-year disqualification in the Toshakhana case.
The ECP had, on August 8, disqualified Imran Khan, presently confined at Adiala Jail, for concealing details of gifts received during his tenure as the premier.
However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had suspended Imran’s sentence on August 29.
Imran Khan, in his petition filed this month, contends that despite providing clear explanations for the Toshakhana gifts, the ECP illegally de-seated him as an MNA from Mianwali’s NA-95 constituency.
The ECP also directed the filing of a complaint against him under the Elections Act 2017.
Imran Khan urges the court to set aside his disqualification as unlawful, enabling him to contest the upcoming general elections.
The petition, initially referred to a larger bench by a senior judge of the high court, was taken up today by a bench headed by Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan.
The bench, which includes Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza, Justice Shahid Karim, Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry, and Justice Jawad Hassan, will first decide on the jurisdiction of the petition before formal proceedings.
Barrister Ali Zafar, representing Imran Khan, highlighted the urgency of the matter, pointing out that the ECP had scheduled the general elections for February 8. However, Justice Mirza raised questions about the jurisdiction of the Islamabad High Court in hearing the case related to Imran Khan, who was elected from Mianwali.
The court directed Barrister Zafar to present arguments on this matter at the next hearing.
