Pakistan, June 25 (Representative) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has knocked at the doors of the Supreme Court for a speedy hearing on his challenge against a decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to disqualify him in the Toshakhana case, a report in Express Tribune said on Monday.. Keen to resume the active role of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, the incarcerated cricketer-turned-politician said in his petition that legal challenges have pushed him into a virtual political exile and left him hamstrung. Barrister Ali Zafar, representing the PTI founder, requested the top court for an early hearing on the appeal against the former premier’s disqualification by the electoral watchdog for not declaring Toshakhana gifts in his statement of assets and liabilities, a report in Express Tribune said. Khan, who is the leader of the country’s largest political party, is facing ongoing challenges to his party chief role following the disqualification.
The PTI chief’s petition states that cases challenging the ECP’s decisions are pending before the Islamabad and Lahore High Courts but the proceedings have remained stalled due to a related case in the Supreme Court. The petitioner argued that legal challenges hinder his ability to become PTI chairman, assembly member, and participate in by-elections due to the pending appeal. In December last year, Khan challenged the ECP’s five-year disqualification in the Lahore High Court. ‘In the petition, Khan urged the court to overturn the ECP’s five-year disqualification and de-notification of him as the returned candidate from NA-45 Kurram-I, and to suspend the notification’s operation until the final disposal of the petition,’ Express Tribune quoted. He accused the ECP of acting with unlawful zeal and haste to exclude him from the February 8 general elections rather than ensuring fair and free elections. In a swift 30-minute proceeding on August 5, 2023, Imran Khan was sentenced to three years in imprisonment and fined Rs 100,000, a conviction later suspended by the Islamabad High Court, the Express Tribune report added.