The Lahore High Court (LHC) has rejected a plea seeking former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s removal as the Chairman of PTI.
According to the details, the latest petition filed in LHC against Imran Khan’s removal in the Toshakhana reference was declared ineffective. The court said that the PTI chairman has already approached the ECP in this case and the proceedings are going on the PTI petition.
Earlier, ECP formally began the process to remove former Prime Minister Imran Khan as chairman of PTI following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.
Read more: SC allows ECP contempt proceedings against Imran Khan, Asad Umar, Ch. Fawad
According to Section 5 (1) of the now defunct Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002, “Every citizen… shall have the right to form or be a member of a political party or be otherwise associated with a political party or take part in political activities or be elected as an office-bearer of a political party: provided that a person shall not be appointed or serve as an office-bearer of a political party if he is not qualified to be, or is disqualified from being, elected or chosen as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) under Article 63 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan or under any other law for the time being in force.”
Read more: ECP springs into action to remove Imran Khan as PTI Chairman
In response, the PTI chief moved the LHC against the ECP measures to strip him from his position as party chairperson following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference. In his petition filed before the high court, the former premier maintained that the electoral watchdog was exceeding its powers by trying to remove him as PTI chairperson. It furthered that the ECP had issued the notice “illegally”.
Later, the LHC prevented the ECP from removing PTI chief Imran Khan as the party’s chairperson. Additionally, the court sought a response from the ECP regarding its proceedings.
This morning, I argued the case of @PTIofficial Chairman @ImranKhanPTI at the Honorable #Lahore #HighCourt. By the grace of Allah, the court has barred @ECP_Pakistan from taking action against #ImranKhan and removing him as party head #PTIOfficial
— Barrister Syed Ali Zafar (@SyedAliZafar1) January 5, 2023