The Pakistan Election Commission decides to ban former Prime Minister Imran Khan from practicing politics for five years, after he was convicted and imprisoned on corruption charges.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan
On Tuesday, the Pakistani Election Commission decided to ban former Prime Minister Imran Khan from practicing politics for five years, after he was convicted and imprisoned on corruption charges.
In its decision, which was seen by Reuters and confirmed by a senior official, the committee indicated that Khan was prevented from practicing politics because of his conviction.
She added, “Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi lost his eligibility for five years.”
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Laws in Pakistan prevent any person found guilty from running for any public office for a period to be determined by the Election Commission, which may reach a maximum of five years from the start of the verdict of conviction.
“We knew this would inevitably happen,” Zulfiqar Bukhari, Khan’s assistant, told Reuters, adding that the party would appeal the disqualification to the Supreme Court.
“We are very confident that this decision will be reversed,” he stressed.
Khan, who denies any wrongdoing, was sentenced to three years in prison on Saturday for illegally selling gifts given to the state after he and his family obtained them during his tenure between 2018 and 2022.
Khan insisted he did not buy or sell state gifts in violation of laws in Islamabad. Government leaders in Pakistan are allowed to buy back gifts, but they are not usually sold. And if that happens, they must declare it as income. Last July, Pakistan’s Supreme Court rejected a petition from him to stay his trial.
Khan was arrested at his home in Lahore and taken to a jail near Islamabad.
His lawyer said that his client’s legal team appealed today, Tuesday, against his conviction, and that the Supreme Court will consider the appeal tomorrow, Wednesday.
Khan has been at the center of political turmoil since his dismissal as prime minister in a no-confidence vote last year, which raised concerns about stability in the country, which is in economic crisis.
Since his overthrow, Khan faces several legal measures, knowing that he is still very popular, and hopes to return to power in the legislative elections scheduled for next October, despite the legal measures that were taken to prevent him from running.
Last June, Khan accused the Pakistani army of deepening the political crisis in the country, and of colluding with the United States of America to overthrow him. It was revealed at the time that the US Undersecretary of State, Donald Law, told the Pakistani ambassador that Khan must be overthrown, and “otherwise, Pakistan will see consequences.”
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2023-08-08 20:49:56
