PTI stages protest rallies as ECP disqualifies Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (NNI):  Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf staged rallies across the country shortly after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified the party chairman Imran Khan over “corrupt practices.”
The Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said the ECP has disqualified Imran Khan for five years.
He said the ECP has also recommended filing of a criminal case against the former prime minister.
The ruling alliance celebrated Khan’s disqualification. Earlier five members of the ECP delivered the verdict in the ‘Toshakhana’ reference under Article 63(1)(p), which about the disqualification of a member of the parliament.
The ECP stated that Imran Khan submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices and ordered to register criminal cases against the PTI chairman.
The ECP’s verdict further said that some of the gifts retained from Toshakhana were concealed in his assets. A five-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja reserved the verdict on September 19 in the Toshakhana reference against former premier Imran Khan.
Prior to the announcement of the verdict, the ECP issued notices to the parties including the former prime minister in the reference. PTI rejected the verdict and announced to move the court. Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry slammed the decision and described it shameful.
He said the PTI will challenge the decision in the Supreme Court as soon they receive a copy of the verdict. Fawad Chaudry said the Election Commission’s attitude had been the worst. “We never pinned any hopes on it.” “This is a shameful decision. They have shamed the 220-million-strong-nation.”NNI