By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court on Monday rejected a request by former premier Imran Khan to immediately suspend a decision by the Election Commission to disqualify him as a lawmaker after he was found guilty in Toshakhana case.
The Chief Justice Athar Minallah gave Khan three days to refile his appeal and then seek suspension of the order.
Khan had challenged the Election Commission’s decision to disqualify him from holding public office for hiding proceeds from the sale of gifts he received from foreign leaders.
The Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief in his appeal stated that the top election body had no power to make decisions on corrupt practices or disqualify people and has asked the high court to suspend the body’s ruling until a final decision is reached on the appeal.
The Justice Minallah, who wants Khan to file the appeal with complete documents, said there is no need to immediately suspend the order as his disqualification covers the current tenure in parliament and it does not bar him from contesting in future polls.
The commission is yet to publicly release its full decision since Friday’s ruling and, causing confusion about whether the five-year disqualification would apply only to the five-year term of the current assembly, or whether the disqualification period would start from the date of the verdict by the ECP.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had said Khan would be disqualified from participating in elections for five years while Khan’s PTI party has said the disqualification covers his current parliament seat.
The tenure of the current national assembly began in August 2018 and will be completed in 2023. Khan already tendered his resignation as a lawmaker in April but it was not accepted. In this case, his disqualification would end with the expiry of the tenure of the assembly.
The election commission had disqualified Khan from holding public office after finding he had unlawfully sold state gifts and concealed assets as premier. The gifts included Rolex watches, a ring, and a pair of cuff links.
The government may file a criminal case against Khan for giving a false statement to the Commission. A conviction in a criminal case carries jail sentence and can bar Khan from participating in politics or holding any public office.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
