ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its ruling on a petition seeking to bar Imran Khan from holding the position of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman due to his conviction in the Toshakhana case.
Although the petition was filed on 3 October, Imran Khan decided against contesting the ECP-mandated intra-party election for the post of party chairman and handpicked Gohar Ali Khan to lead the party due to his disqualification in Toshakhana case and other legal challenges earlier this month.
Barrister Gohar was officially elected as the PTI chairman unopposed in the intra-party election held on 2 December.
During today’s hearing, PTI lawyer Shoaib Shaheen said the petition had become infructuous as the party elected its new chief. He said they had submitted a record of the intra-party election to the ECP, and the matter should now come to an end.
PTI Founding Member Akbar S Babar’s Petition
He also said that if the ECP wanted to hear this case, then it should club it with a petition being filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar against the party’s intra-party election.
To this, Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja said that you are giving Khalid Mahmood [petitioner’s legal counsel] a chance to file a petition against the new chief.
Advocate Mahmood also pleaded with the Chief Election Commissioner to mention in the order that Imran Khan cannot hold any position in the party due to his conviction.
The Chief Election Commissioner said that they cannot comment on the issue as the former PTI chief did not contest intra-party elections. The ECP also directed Imran Khan’s lawyer to submit the record of the PTI’s intra-party election.
