ECP legal wing says Imran Khan eligible to contest new by-election

The legal experts in the Election Commission of Pakistan have told the electoral body that former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan can take part in the by-elections even after the latter’s disqualification by the commission in the Toshakhana reference, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.

Sources informed that the ECP sought opinion from its legal wing whether PTI Chief Imran could contest the next by-election after the electoral body on Friday disqualified the former premier in the Toshakhana reference. 

A debate was triggered in the political and legal circles regarding Imran’s eligibility to contest the new polls after the observation of Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah during the hearing of a petition filed by the PTI chief against the ECP verdict yesterday. 

The CJ remarked that the PTI Chairman had not been barred from contesting in future elections following the ECP verdict in the Toshakhana reference against him, adding that the former premier “won’t face any problems” to contest in the NA-45 (Kurram-I) by-election scheduled to be held on Oct 30.

“Imran Khan is not disqualified for that election,” CJ Minallah observed during the hearing. 

Sources said that the ECP legal wing deliberated on the matter of Imran’s disqualification and declared that he was eligible to participate in the new by-election.

The ECP has informed the reginal election commissioner of Kurram about the decision regarding Imran’s eligibility. 

The regional election commissioner earlier had sought the legal expertise after the ECP disqualification verdict against Imran. 

The ECP law wing is of the view that Imran has been disqualified from the current National Assembly seat i.e. NA 95 under Article 63 (1) (p). But the PTI chief could contest by-elections on any other seat, the ECP legal experts added. 

Reporter Usman Khan