Cabinet gives nod to placing IK’s name in ECL
A group of MNAs associated with the Pakistan Democratic Movement on Thursday filed a reference with the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking the disqualification of former prime minister Imran Khan from holding public office for allegedly receiving prohibited funding from a number of foreign donors.
The reference was submitted by MNA Barrister Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, carrying signatures of lawmakers Agha Hassan Baloch, Salahudeen Ayubi, Ali Gohar Khan, Syed Rafiullah Agha and Saad Waseem Sheikh.
In its verdict on Tuesday, the election watchdog ruled that PTI had “wilfully” and “knowingly” received prohibited funding from a number of foreign donors. In its order, the commission had also said that it was “constrained to hold that Imran Khan failed to discharge his obligations as mandated under the Pakistani statutes”. The reference filed today, demanded the ECP to disqualify Imran under Article 62 and 63(1)(f) of the Constitution. It also carried documentary evidence to corroborate their claims against the ex-PM.
Article 62(1)(f) says: “A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless […] he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law.”
While, Article 63(2) reads: “If any question arises whether a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) has become disqualified from being a member, the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Chairman shall, unless he decides that no such question has arisen, refer the question to the Election Commission within thirty days and should he fail to do so within the aforesaid period it shall be deemed to have been referred to the Election Commission.”
Meanwhile, days after Election Commission of Pakistan in its unanimous verdict announced that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had received funding from prohibited sources, the federal cabinet approved placing former prime minister Imran Khan’s name in the Exit Control List.
