LHC fixes hearing against Imran Khan’s removal as PTI chief

• LHC will hear the case filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan
• A five-member larger bench will hear the case
• ECP has taken legal action to remove Imran Khan as PTI chairman

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) will hear the case against Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to remove Imran Khan as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman.

A five-member larger bench headed by Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan will hold the hearing on January 30 against the plea filed by the former prime minister.

Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza, Justice Shahid Karim, Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry, and Justice Jawad Hassan have been included in the larger bench.

Imran Khan has submitted an application against the election commission’s decision to strip him as PTI chairman after being disqualified in the Toshakhana case.

His counsel and renowned lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar will give evidence that the Election Commission has exceeded its authority and is taking action to remove the party from office.

The party has maintained that election commission illegally issued notice to remove the PTI chairman from his post. The election commission started legal action on 7 December 2022.

The petition said the PTI chairman has revealed his assets before the election commission. It has urged the court to declare the legal action by the election commission as null and void.

Earlier this month, the Lahore High Court (LHC) barred the Election Commission of Pakistan from proceeding to strip Imran Khan of his position as PTI chairman.

A high court bench issued the order a day after the PTI chief filed a petition against the ECP’s proceedings.

He argued that the electoral body was exceeding its powers by trying to remove him as the party head, adding that the ECP issued him the notice “illegally”.

The petition maintained that the proceedings were launched against him illegally as Imran Khan had declared his assets before the ECP.

It requested the LHC to suspend the ECP notice sent to Imran Khan and restrained from taking further action before the final verdict.

The ECP initiated proceedings to remove Imran Khan as the PTI chief following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.

In October last year, the ECP disqualified Imran Khan under Article 63(1)(p) for making false statements and incorrect declaration in the Toshakhana case.

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