ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday rejected a request by former premier Imran Khan to suspend last week’s verdict by the Election Commission of Pakistan barring the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party from holding public office.
The ECP decision came in a case involving gifts from foreign dignitaries and heads of state to Khan when he was prime minister. Khan has been found guilty of incorrectly declaring his earnings from the sale of the gifts in asset declaration documents submitted to the ECP.
The PTI chairman had approached the IHC against the verdict. The election tribunal is yet to officially release a detailed ruling providing details such as how long the former premier would be barred from public office.
“When there is no [detailed] judgment then which order should the court suspend?” IHC chief justice Athar Minallah asked Khan’s lawyer in court on Monday, rejecting a plea to suspend the ECP verdict immediately.
A five-member election tribunal announced the verdict in what has been come to be called the Toshakhana (state repository) case on Friday under Article 63(1) P, ruling that Khan was found “guilty of corrupt practices.”
Khan immediately rejected the verdict, accusing the ECP of being biased toward him. He has repeatedly called for the ECP chief to step down.
Since being removed from office in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in April, Khan has held protest gatherings across the country calling for snap elections, but the government has said they will be held as scheduled in October or November next year.
The political instability has also fueled economic uncertainty, with international ratings agencies questioning if the current government can maintain difficult economic policies in the face of political pressure and looming polls.
Under Pakistani law, a legislator found guilty of corruption or misuse of public office can be barred for up to five years.
