Islamabad: On Monday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) initiated the process to remove Imran Khan from the position of Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf’s (PTI) chairperson. The ECP has issued a notice to Imran Khan for a hearing on December 13, 2022. Earlier, the election watchdogs disqualified Imran in the Toshakhana case under Article 63 (1) over incorrect declaration and false statements.
Reports claim that PTI leadership believes that the law does not stop an individual from being the party’s office-bearer. However, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from the position of PML-N’s head in February 2018 under Articles 62 (1) (f). The Supreme Court issued the verdict, which stated that a person could not be a head of a political party if disqualified under Articles 62 & 63.
It is pertinent to mention that already a petition is pending in Lahore High Court for the disqualification of Imran Khan as the chairman of PTI. The petition stated that it is the requirement of PPO 2022 and People Act 1976 that a person has to be qualified under Articles 62 & 63 to become the office bearers of a political party.