Imran Khan not disqualified from contesting election: Pak HC

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court on Monday said that former Prime Minister Imran Khan is not disqualified from contesting the election. It was addressing the disqualification decision by the top election body.

Chief Justice of the IHC Athar Minallah observed that Khan had not been barred from contesting in future elections. He is eligible to contest in the Kurram district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on October 30. "Imran Khan is not disqualified for that election. There should be one standard for all. There is no need to rush in this case." The judge also refused to issue a stay order on the ECP verdict. The court has now asked the counsel to remove the objections on the petition within three days. It will hear the petition once the objections are removed.

The Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified Khan over the Toshakhana case. He challenged the verdict in the High Court the very next day. Khan's counsel Barrister Ali Zafar pressed to start the hearing despite administrative objections by the IHC registrar. Khan had failed to disclose the proceeds of the sale of gifts he purchased from the Toshakhana, the department that stores expensive gifts given to state officials.