The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday rejected a petition seeking the removal of Imran Khan from the position of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman.
ECP began proceedings in December 2022 to remove Imran Khan from the chairmanship of PTI after he was found ineligible in the Toshakhana reference.
The case was heard by the commission’s three-member bench, which included Shah Muhammad Jatoi and Nisar Ahmad Durrani from the ECP as well as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
“Removal from the chairmanship of PTI, notice to the party’s chief election commissioner Jamal Akbar Ansari,” “Application for removal of Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi from the chairmanship of PTI, notice to Muhammad Afaq, AHC,” and “Application against the issuance of notification in favor of Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi as a returned candidate in the by-elections, 2022,” are the titles of the case.
Imran Khan’s attorney, Barrister Gohar, appeared in the ECP today and provided a response. He claimed that the high court had ordered the ECP to refrain from taking any “strict action” against Khan, but the CEC countered that simply hearing the matter did not constitute “strict action” and that the ECP had not been ordered to stop conducting the hearing.
The lawyer for the petition Afaq also made an appearance in the ECP and vehemently criticized the election watchdog for delivering notice to the incorrect address and on the incorrect date.
You can’t pressurize us by speaking loudly, the CEC reacted angrily and demanded that security staff eject the lawyer from the room. Later, the CEC rejected the plea.
On Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former premier Imran Khan’s petition for the suspension of a non-bailable arrest warrant issued for him in the Toshakhana case was denied by an Islamabad district and sessions court.
After a brief hearing, Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal delivered the judgment he had reserved earlier in the day.
During the hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Ali Bukhari, argued that his client had consistently complied with court instructions. Whereas, Khan’s other lawyer, Qaiser Imam, countered that the police cannot detain Imran Khan if he is eager to appear.
The court then remarked that Imran Khan may have requested the suspension of the warrant by contacting the Islamabad High Court.
