Ex-Pak PM Disqualified From Holding Public Office

New Delhi: Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was disqualified from running for any political office for five years by the Pakistan Election Commission on Friday, sources told CNN-News18.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief has been disqualified for five years under Article 63(i)(iii) for submitting a false statement in the Toshakhana case, said sources.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has found him guilty of “not sharing details” of Toshakhana gifts and proceeds from their sale during his time as prime minister.

On August 4, lawmakers from the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which is part of the ruling alliance, filed a reference for the PTI chief’s disqualification from public office under Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution.

The PTI has announced nationwide protests against the poll panel verdict. Pakistani media reports earlier this year said Imran Khan earned Rs 36 million by illegally selling three watches gifted to him by foreign dignitaries to a local watch dealer.

According to the details of an official inquiry, Khan during his tenure as prime minister earned millions of rupees from these jewel-class watches collectively worth over Rs 154 million. The watches were gifted to him by foreign leaders.

According to Pakistan’s law, any gift received from dignitaries of a foreign state must be put in the state depository or the Toshakhana. Instead of buying those gifted jewel watches from Toshakhana from his own pocket, the cricketer-turned-politician first sold the watches and then deposited 20 per cent of each in the government treasury, the reports said.