ECP initiates proceedings to remove Imran Khan as PTI Chairman

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has initiated steps to remove Imran Khan as chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The election commission took the action after disqualifying Imran Khan from his National Assembly seat in October in the Toshakhana reference against him.

In this regard, the ECP has scheduled the hearing to remove Imran Khan from the PTI chairmanship on December 13.

The electoral watchdog sent a notice for the removal of Imran Khan as the chairman of PTI and summoned him on Dec 13.

PTI General Secretary Asad Umar confirmed receiving the notice. He said the party will write a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja to inquire about the reason for sending a notice.

He said they would challenge the legitimacy of the notice, adding that the ECP had no authority to remove Imran Khan as party chairman.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear the appeal against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in the Toshakhana case on December 8.

The court accepted the PTI’s chief application for an early hearing of the appeal. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the plea of PTI seeking a hearing into the appeal on a daily basis.

The PTI had challenged the verdict of ECP in the Toshakhana scandal in which former prime minister Imran Khan had been disqualified. The PTI chief was accused of not declaring the sale of gifts received from the gift depository in his documents submitted to the election commission.

The IHC bench had earlier observed that Imran Khan was only disqualified from his seat and has not been barred from contesting future elections following the ECP verdict in the Toshakhana reference.

He urged the court to suspend the operation of the impugned order of the ECP and restrain further proceeding by ECP or its behest till final disposal of the petition.

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