ISLAMABAD: PTI has announced to challenge the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against Imran Khan in Tosha Khana case in Islamabad High Court (IHC).
PTI General Secretary Asad Umar while reacting to the ECP decision said that the party is approaching the IHC today against the decision. He said that PTI will file the petition today.
On the other hand, senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry was outraged by the ECP’s decision and called it a “shameful” decision which is an attack on Pakistan’s institutions.
In a unanimous decision, the ECP on Friday disqualified former Prime Minister Imran Khan and decided that the PTI chairman is no longer a member of the National Assembly.
The ECP said that Khan submitted a false affidavit and was found to be involved in corruption.
Speaking to the media after the verdict, Chaudhry said that the commission gave the verdict that he had hoped for. He said that they are only targeting Imran Khan.
The PTI leader said that the ECP and its members are not competent to take this decision. “Who are you [ECP] to take this decision?” he questioned.
“I ask the people of Pakistan to take to the streets for their rights. PTI and the nation reject this decision,” he added.
‘Nawaz Sharif’s Decision’
Former Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shehbaz Gul said that the decision was taken by a servant of Nawaz Sharif.
He further said that this decision was written by Nawaz Sharif and his junior worker signed it and announced it.
He said that the verdict was to be delivered at 2 pm and before that all the gates were closed and the media was not allowed inside. “If this decision was justified, then what were they afraid of?” he questioned.
Gill said that this decision was written by a fugitive and the nation rejects it.
PTI leader Asad Umar also condemned the decision and called it a violation of justice.
In a message on his Twitter handle, Umar said, “The decision will soon be challenged in court and their dream of ‘minus Imran Khan’ will never come true.”
The angry Shafqat Mehmood of PTI also vented his anger on Twitter.
“History also tells us that popular leaders cannot be removed from public consciousness through disqualification or any other coercion. Imran Khan lives among the people and these ridiculous decisions cannot stop him,” Mehmood said in a Twitter post. .
PTI’s Babar Awan said on Twitter that the decision against Imran Khan is unconstitutional and an attack on the foundation of Pakistan.
“The Captain defeated Mafia XI in the open and they cannot avenge their defeat behind closed doors.”
Awan further said that the country is being pushed towards conflict.
The Case
In August 2022, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf sent a reference to the ECP under Articles 62A, 63A, and 223 for the disqualification of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in light of the Tosha Khana scandal.
The disqualification reference was filed by Ali Gohar Khan, PML-N’s Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha and 5 others.
The 28-page reference identified 52 gift items from the Tosha Khana received by former Prime Minister Khan, which were snatched at nominal prices in violation of laws and regulations and mostly sold in the gift market, including Some valuable watches were also included.
The estimated value of the gifts is Rs 142,042,100. These gifts were received between August 2018 and December 2021.
