Following the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualifying Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for five years in its decision announced today, members of the party have been condemning the move, with party leader Asad Umar saying the decision will be challenged in court.
The verdict, which had been reserved a month ago, was announced by a five-member bench headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja. According to the unanimous decision, Khan has been disqualified for five years. Additionally, criminal proceedings will be initiated against Imran Khan for misdeclaration.
After the decision was announced, PTI leader Fawad Chauhdry urged PTI supporters to show up on the streets in protest, claiming that the decision was a ‘slap on the face of the 220 million people of Pakistan’. “Just a week ago Imran Khan won 2/3 majority in the Punjab by-elections; who are you to make this decision?” he asked.
پاکستان کے 22 کروڑ لوگوں کو جو نااہل کرنے کا الیکشن کمیشن نے فیصلہ دیا وہ شرمناک ہے۔ یہ عمران خان پر نہیں بلکہ پاکستان کی عزت، آئین، قانون، اداروں پر حملہ ہے-@fawadchaudhry #BehindYouSkipper pic.twitter.com/wK7Q0vzbix
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 21, 2022
Responding to a question on Twitter, he also clarified that the disqualification does not apply to the 2023 General Election.
No it does not https://t.co/tI8aeoPpeB
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 21, 2022
He also posted a picture of a smiling Imran Khan which he claimed was from a few moments ago, adding, “I congratulate the workers of Tehreek-e-Insaaf and the citizens of Pakistan as they are coming out and expressing their feelings all over the country without any call.” He said that what was visible on Imran Khan’s face was a trust in the people.
میں تحریک انصاف کے کارکنان اور پاکستان کے شہریوں کو مبارکباد دیتا پیش کرتا ہوں جس طرح پورے ملک میں بغیر کسی کال کے وہ باہر نکل رہے ہیں اور اپنے جذبات کا اظہار کر رہے ہیں عمران خان کی یہ تصویر اب سے کچھ لمحے پہلے کی ہے اطمینان جو ان کہ چہرے پر ہے یہ عوام پر اعتبار کا اعتماد ہے pic.twitter.com/bPqR9iwuvb
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 21, 2022
Meanwhile former planning minister Asad Umar said that all of PTI’s lawyers are ready with petitions, and said that the decision will be challenged and the petition will be filed today in the Islamabad High Court. “Whoever is dreaming about a democratic system in Pakistan without Imran Khan, listen carefully: this will not happen,” he said.
فیصلہ کورٹ میں چیلنج ہو گا. مائنس عمران خان کا خواب انشاءاللہ کبھی نہیں پورا ہو گا-@Asad_Umar pic.twitter.com/as0ytUhHPB
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 21, 2022
Other PTI leaders also took to Twitter to express their displeasure and condemnation for the ECP verdict. Former climate change minister Zartaj Gul said, “The goons masquerading as the Government have illegitimately conspired to try to bring down an absolute political colossus!,” adding that the game was ‘not over’ yet.
The goons masquerading as the Government have illegitimately conspired to try to bring down an absolute political colossus! This merely will elevate the great man's stature. The game ain't finished yet. pic.twitter.com/9RgOCa5RJv
— Zartaj Gul Wazir (@zartajgulwazir) October 21, 2022
Leader of the Opposition Senator Shehzad Waseem said, “The entire nation rejects this political and biased decision of the Election Commission against the most popular leader of Pakistan.”
سیاسی میدان میں بدترین شکست کھانے کے بعد عمران خان کو مائنس ون کرنے کا خواب بھی کبھی پورا نہیں ہوگا، پوری قوم پاکستان کے سب سے مقبول ترین لیڈر کیخلاف الیکشن کمیشن کے اس سیاسی اور متعصب فیصلے کو مسترد کرتی ہے۔
#عمران_خان_ہماری_ریڈ_لائن— Senator Dr. Shahzad Waseem (@dswpti) October 21, 2022
Hammad Azhar announced that the PTI will be protesting in Lahore, and said, “Lahore, there will be protests. Right this instance,” listing down six locations where the protests will be held.
لاہور۔ احتجاج کیا جائے گا۔ ابھی کے ابھی
بند روڈ بابوصابو چوک
ہربنز پورہ رنگ روڈ
ٹھوکر نیاز بیگ
شاہدرہ چوک
شنگھائی چوک، فیروز پور روڈ
بھٹہ چوک کینٹ— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) October 21, 2022
Pervez Khattak took to Twitter to say, “Toshakhana case against Imran Khan is absolutely baseless,” urging people to ‘watch out’.
Toshakhana case against Imran Khan is absolutely baseless. #عمران_خان_ہماری_ریڈ_لائن so watch out ! pic.twitter.com/FgzL3Uo5qL
— Pervez Khattak (@PervezKhattakPK) October 21, 2022
Meanwhile Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan’s ‘first certified liar and thief’ has been disqualified with ‘irrefutable’ evidence. “As big as the theft is, the punishment should not end only with disqualification,” she added.
پاکستان کا پہلا سرٹیفائڈ جھوٹا اور سند یافتہ چور جو چوری کے نا قابل تردید ثبوتوں کے ساتھ نا اہل ہوا۔ میاں بیوی نے مل کر قومی خزانے کو لوٹا۔ جتنی بڑی چوری ہے اسکی سزا صرف نااہلی پر ختم نہیں ہونی چاہیے۔ اسکو گرفتار کر کے قانون کے سامنے پیش کرنا چاہیے اور لوٹا پیسہ واپس لینا چاہیے۔ pic.twitter.com/5gNffXw0ID
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 21, 2022
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also tweeted about the development and said, “He who would spread lies about alleged corruption of his political opponents has been caught red handed.”
Election commission of Pakistan has found Imran Khan guilty of corrupt practices. He now stands disqualified. He who would spread lies about alleged corruption of his political opponents has been caught red handed.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 21, 2022
PML-N leader Javed Latif also wrote on Twitter, “Certified thief”.
سرٹیفائڈ چور!
— Mian Javed Latif (@Mian_JavedLatif) October 21, 2022
Meanwhile the official PML-N Twitter account took a jibe at PTI and simply said ‘Jummah Mubarak’ (Blessed Friday), while posting a screenshot of a news announcement about Imran Khan’s disqualification.
جمعہ مبارک۔۔۔۔ https://t.co/RZGsSAugAq pic.twitter.com/AzpvYTztMH
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) October 21, 2022
People in glass houses should not throw stones on others. Read the writing on the wall. Don’t waste time in going to courts. Establishment wants to redeem itself and get the playing field levelled up.
Get rid d of Sadiq and Ameen political engineering tool and replace it “right and proper” term like other democratic nations that means a parliamentary committee should look at sleeve in politics issue rather then courts.