The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday disqualified PTI chief Imran Khan for 5 years under Article 63 (i) (iii) for submitting a false statement in the Tosha Khana reference.A four-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja delivered the verdict at the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad.The verdict was delivered unanimously by a five-member bench. However, the Member of Assembly from Punjab was not present for today’s announcement.According to the decision, criminal action will be taken against Imran for false statement.
Soon after the verdict was pronounced, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry asked the people to come out of their houses for their rights. He was talking to the media outside the ECP.Ahead of the verdict, tight security arrangements have been made at the ECP.Before the ECP was announced, television footage showed PTI leaders climbing the gate to reach the commission’s secretariat.A reference was filed against Imran by the coalition government in August for “not sharing details” of Tosha Khana’s gifts and proceeds from their alleged sale. Lawmakers from the Pakistan Democratic Movement – ​​the ruling coalition – submitted the reference to National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, who later forwarded it to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for further action.
