The Islamabad High Court on Thursday decided to constitute a larger bench to hear a petition seeking PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s disqualification for not mentioning “his daughter Tyrian Jade White” in his nomination papers.
A day ago, Imran had submitted a response to the IHC requesting the petition against him to be dismissed, arguing it was “not maintainable” on legal grounds.
In his response, the PTI chief had argued he was not a member of the National Assembly anymore, therefore such a petition was “not maintainable and may not be proceeded”.
Last year, petitioner Sajid Mahmood had approached the IHC claiming that although Imran made arrangements for Tyrian White’s upkeep abroad, he did not disclose it in nomination papers and affidavits filed by him for elections.
IHC Chief Justice Amir Farooq presided over the hearing Thursday and adjourned the next hearing till February 9. Salman Butt was present from the petitioner’s side while Imran’s counsels included Advocate Salman Akram Raja’s assistant and Advocate Salman Abuzar Niazi.
Imran’s counsel Raja excused himself from attending the hearing citing duties in the Supreme Court.
At the outset of the hearing, Raja’s assistant clarified that Raja was present in the Supreme Court’s bench number one. The petitioner’s lawyer remarked that Raja had submitted a written response.
To this, Justice Farooq responded, “In the reply, it has been said that Imran is not a National Assembly member anymore.” The lawyer added the Election Commission of Pakistan itself had denotified Imran.
