Tensions are high in Islamabad as the nation awaits the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) verdict in the Toshakhana disqualification reference against PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan at 2 pm today. Pertinent to mention that the verdict was reserved on September 19.
Security of the ECP has been beefed up ahead of the verdict in the Toshakhana case. According to the details, at least 1,100 police officials have been deployed in the Red Zone under the command of a senior superintendent of police to control the law and order situation in the area. The officer will be assisted by five superintendents of police, and six deputy superintendents of police.
Lots of police in Blue Area. Perhaps in anticipation of the ECP verdict.
— Azam Jamil اعظم (@AzamJamil53) October 21, 2022
Moreover, the law enforcement agency will also be assisted by the Punjab Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary. The troops have been provided with shells of tear gas, while the entry of irrelevant people into the Election Commission of Pakistan has been banned.
While police authorities vow that the PTI workers will not be allowed to come near the Election Commission for the Toshakhana case verdict, the high security has caused alarm. PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said Islamabad has been turned into a fort.
Read more: Toshakhana: The mother of all corruption?
“Islamabad is currently presenting the scene of a fort that is under siege by a large army. The war has just begun. When millions of people surround you, don’t take matters to the point of no return,” the PTI leader said while warning the government.
اسلام آباد اس وقت ایسے قلعے کا منظر پیش کر رہا ہے جو بڑی فوج کے محاصرے میں ہو، ابھی تو جنگ کا آغاز ہوا ہے ابھی سے گھبرا گئے؟ لاکھوں لوگ جب گھیراؤ کریں گے تو بھاگنے کی جبکہ نہیں رہنی معاملات کو Point of No Return پر نہ لے کر جاؤ #ImranKhanOurRedLine
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 21, 2022
Imran Khan’s disqualification in Toshakhana scam
In August 2022, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf sent a reference to the ECP under Articles 62A, 63A, and 223, seeking former prime minister Imran Khan’s disqualification in the light of the Toshakhana scam.
The disqualification reference was filed by Ali Gohar Khan, PML-N’s Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, and five others. The 28-page reference identified 52 gift items of Toshakhana received by the former prime minister Khan, violating the law and rules, taken away at nominal prices, and most of the gifts were sold in the market, including some precious watches.
Read more: PM Shehbaz accuses Imran Khan of selling Toshakhana’s gifts
According to PML-N MNA Ranjha, Imran Khan concealed information about the gift of watches by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in his statement of assets submitted in 2018-2019.
This withholding of information is tantamount to lying which, according to Ranjha, is a crime under Section 137. He thus said that Khan was no more Sadiq and Ameen and should be slapped with disqualification for life from contesting the election under Article 62(1)(f), Article 2, Article 3 of the Constitution.