The petition for the removal of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan as party chief has been accepted for hearing by the Lahore High Court (LHC).
PTI Chairman Imran Khan was disqualified in the Toshakhana reference by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The verdict on the maintainability of the plea was reserved by the LHC on Thursday filed by Advocate Muhammad Afaq.
Today, the decision was announced by Justice Sajid Mehmood Sethi. Notices have been served to the attorney general, advocate general of Punjab and the respondents have been directed to submit their replies by November 11. The petition had named Imran Khan, ECP, the government of Pakistan and other respondents.
The plea had maintained that according to the representation of the People Act 1976 and Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002 the qualification of party office holders was required to be qualified as per Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution. The petitioner maintained that a disqualified person could not be head of a political party under the PPO rules.
The petitioner also maintained in the plea that by continuing to head PTI, Imran Khan has violated the laws. He has requested the court to issue an order to the ECP for the removal of Imran Khan as PTI Chairman and nomination of a new party chief be ordered.
ECP disqualified Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case on basis of his false statements and incorrect declarations regarding the gifts he had received. The order stated Imran was disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.
