Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been disqualified from holding public office for five years after his conviction by a trial court on the weekend, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Election Commission noted that Khan, who heads Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was found “guilty of corrupt practises” under relevant constitutional provisions following which he has been convicted and sentenced by the court.
“As a consequence, Mr Imran Khan Niazi has become disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with Section 232 of the Election Act, 2017,” the ECP said.
Khan has slammed the judge who handed down his verdict, saying that he has been denied a “fair trial”.
The ex-Pakistan PM has claimed that the judge harboured a “personal dislike” against him.
The Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government has accused Khan of failing to reveal the value of gifts he had received from foreign dignitaries during his time in power, as mandated under the federal law.
Interim Government to Take Charge in Pakistan
As reported in Pakistani media, the ECP order came on the eve of the expiry of the term of Pakistan’s current National Assembly ahead of the federal election, the dates for which are yet to be announced.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has previously said that an interim government would take charge till the election is held and a new government is elected.
Khan was removed from power last April in a no-confidence motion, which he says had been instigated by the US at the insistence of the country’s then military leadership.