ECP to hear PDM’s Toshakhana reference for disqualifying Imran on Aug 18    

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started legal proceedings against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhan reference and prohibited funding case.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, the ECP scheduled the hearing of the application of the ruling alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) for disqualification of Imran Khan in ToshaKhana Reference on August 18.
Applicant Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha had approached the ECP for the disqualification of Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference.
The ECP also issued a show cause notice to Imran Khan as chairman of the party for confiscation of the prohibited funds of the PTI in the prohibited funding case.
In the show cause notice, the ECP directed PTI Chairman Imran Khan to appear on 23 August.
The Election Commission headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) will hold a hearing.

It is worth mentioning that Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha is a Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader and urged the government to start legal proceedings against Imran Khan under the Article 62 (1) F of the Constitution as misuse of power.

He has stated that Imran Khan during his tenure as Prime Minister refused to provide the details of gifts bought from Toshakhana. In early 2022, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the government to share the list of gifts deposited in Toshakhana.

He said Imran Khan had bought watches of Toshakhana worth over Rs 100 million by paying only Rs20 million but did not submit the details of these assets in the ECP in 2019.

Due to these facts, he and members of National Assembly including Saad Waseem and Salahuddin Ayubi filed a reference against Imran Khan to the Speaker and the speaker was Constitutionally bound to forward it to ECP within one month period.

Mohsin Ranjha said that the ECP was bound to announce decision within 90 days as Imran Khan has also proved tax evader.

While in the prohibited funding case, the ECP on last Tuesday declared that the PTI got prohibited funding from 34 foreigners including the LLC, America. 

In its 70-page verdict announced today and read out by the chief election commissioner, the ECP declared that the PTI received funds from 34 foreigners and 351 business personalities. The PTI owned only eight bank accounts, concealed 16 and disowned 13 accounts. 

The case of prohibited funding has been proved against the PTI, the commission said adding that PTI Chairman Imran Khan had submitted misdeclaration to the ECP. The commission issued a show cause notice to the PTI demanding an explanation from the PTI chief regarding prohibited funding. 

The ECP declared that the PTI willing got funds from America, Canada, LLC, Bristol Services, Abraaj Group, Arif Naqvi, Romita Shetty, IPI and USI. The commission said that concealing 16 accounts was a violation of Article 17.

Reporter: Usman Khan