LHC refers Imran Khan’s plea against disqualification to CJP

LAHORE: The single bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has referred the case of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) former chairman Imran Khan to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).

The case pertains to the application in which Imran Khan has challenged his disqualification in the Toshakhana case.

LHC Justice Shujaat Ali Khan heard the petition filed by the former premier on Friday. During the proceedings, the judge sent the case file to the LHC chief justice suggesting him to refer the case to a five-judge larger bench which is already hearing a set of petitions of similar nature under the head of Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan.

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“It will be appropriate if the same larger bench hears this petition too,” Justice Shujaat recommended.

The judge conducted the proceedings on Imran Khan’s petition at his chamber. Barrister Ali Zafar appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioner. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and others have been made respondents in the petition.

Imran Khan has alleged that the ECP unconstitutionally and illegally disqualified him in excess of its authority and that attempts are being made to keep him and his party out of the upcoming elections. The petitioner has argued that the ECP is a constitutional body whose job is to conduct fair and transparent elections, not to act as a court of law. He claimed that the ECP issued a notification of disqualification on August 8, which was against the constitution and the law.

He has requested the court to declare the notification as unconstitutional and to suspend it until the final decision of the case. – INP