Islamabad:The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday categorically rejected reports claiming that the electoral watchdog had decided to strip Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan of his party’s chairmanship following his conviction in the Toshakhana reference.
A district and sessions court in Islamabad on August 5 convicted the former prime minister for corrupt practices related to the state gift depository — allegations which he denies.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was accused of misusing his premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than Rs140 million (approximately $635,000).
Rejecting Khan’s petition seeking inadmissibility of the case, Additional and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar sentenced the PTI chief to three-year imprisonment.
“Charges of misdeclaration of assets have been proven against the PTI chairman,” Judge Dilawar mentioned in his judgment. He then handed Khan three years in jail along with a fine of Rs100,000.
Soon after being convicted in the case, the former prime minister was taken into custody from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
Earlier today, reports started circulating on social media and a section of mainstream media claiming that an important meeting is underway in the ECP with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja in the chair to revive the evolving situation after Khan’s arrest.
According to reports, the ECP meeting decided to remove Khan from the party chairmanship as he was no longer eligible to hold the office after his convection in the case. The ECP was all set to issue an order in this regard, the reports further claimed. The election organising authority, however, termed the reports as rumours.
“Neither any meeting was held on the matter at the ECP nor the topic came under discussing,” clarified the election watchdog.
