Election Commission Begins Process To Remove Imran Khan As PTI Chairman

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), through Director General Law Mohammad Arshad, informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday that proceedings to remove Imran Khan from the post of PTI chairman had commenced, after his disqualification was ordered by the commission in the Toshakhana reference.

The ECP also told the court that the next hearing of the reference has been scheduled for 20 December. A district and sessions court in Islamabad had already reserved its verdict on an ECP plea in the Toshakhana case against Imran Khan. The trial court had taken up the commission’s plea on 22 November, and is expected to announce its judgment on 15 December.

On 5 December, the ECP had initiated the legal process to remove Imran Khan as chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the light of its verdict against Pakistan's most popular political leader in the Toshakhana reference case. Imran Khan is disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”, and is facing legal challenges similar to his predecessor and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.