The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a petition seeking to bar Imran Khan from holding the position of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman due to his conviction in the Toshakhana case.
Although the petition was filed on October 3, Imran decided against contesting the ECP-mandated intra-party polls 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.
During the hearing, PTI lawyer Shoaib Shaheen said the petition had become infructuous as the party has elected its new chairman.
He said they have submitted a record of the intra-party polls to the ECP and the matter should now come to an end.
Advocate Shaheen also said that if the ECP wanted to hear this matter then it should club it with a petition being filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar against the party’s intra-party polls.
To this, Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja said: “You are giving Khalid Mahmood [petitioner’s lawyer] a chance to file a petition against the new chairman.” Advocate Mahmood also pleaded with the CEC to mention in the order that Imran Khan cannot hold any position in the party due to his conviction. The CEC said that they cannot comment on the matter as the former PTI chief did not contest intra-party polls. The ECP also directed Khan’s lawyer to submit record of the PTI’s intra-party polls.
Meanwhile, the hearing on the bail applications of former chairman of PTI and Shah Mehmood Qureshi was adjourned without proceeding as the judge was on leave.
Anti-terrorism court is hearing the bail pleas of the two leaders in May 9 vandalism case. Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain was on leave and the court reader set December 11 as next date of hearing.
