LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday reserved a verdict on the maintainability of a petition seeking removal of former prime minister Imran Khan from the office of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.

Petitioner Muhammad Afaq submitted before the court that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified the former prime minister and de-seated him from NA-95, Mianwali, on charges of corrupt practice.

He said a disqualified person could not head a political party under the Political Parties Order and its rules. He argues that Khan is violating the laws by continuing to head the PTI, which was a registered party with the ECP.

The lawyer asked the court to order the ECP to remove Khan as the PTI’s chairman and issue a direction for the nomination of a new party head.

Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi observed that the court would first decide whether the petition was maintainable before it under article 199 of the Constitution. The judge reserved his verdict on the point of maintainability.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2022