ECP disqualifies Imran Khan for five years

Islamabad:  The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday disqualified former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for five years following his conviction in Toshakhana case.

The electoral watchdog issued a disqualification notification. The PTI chief was also de-notified by the ECP from the NA-45 Kurram.

The PTI leader was sentenced to three years in prison and fined Rs. 100,000 by an Islamabad court in the Toshakhana case. This choice was made as the criminal complaint against the PTI chairman was being heard by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The former prime minister was charged with hiding information about gifts he received at Toshakhana.

Later, on August 5, Punjab police detained the PTI leader at his Zaman Park a house in Lahore.

The ECP stated in a notification that "A person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of the Parliament, if he has been, on conviction for any offence involving moral turpitude, sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years, unless a period of five years has elapsed since his release."

The electoral watchdog declared the PTI chief Imran khan disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017.

Earlier, An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore extended the former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan's interim bail in seven cases including May 9 violence on Tuesday. 

The accused's plea for a one-day attendance exemption was likewise granted by the court.

The decision was made by Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar of the Anti-Terrorism Court.

The prosecution received notices from the court regarding the request to excuse the defendant from appearing until August 11th.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan's lawyer filed a plea for exempting the former prime minister from attendance on the grounds of filing an appeal against the sentence in the Islamabad High Court.

Imran Khan is accused of attacking Jinnah House, Askari Tower, and burning down the office of Pakistan Muslim League-N and Shadman police station.