LAHORE: The opposition celebrated the disqualification of PTI Chairman Imran Khan by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by distributing sweets, arranging fireworks, beating drums and doing horse dancing here on Friday.

The main event in this regard was arranged at Khokhar Palace, the residence of PML-N leader Saiful Malook Khokhar, where a large number of workers joined the celebrations and danced to the tune of drums. A fireworks show was also organized there.

PML-N MPA Liaquat Kanwal, women wing office-bearers and supporters distributed sweets in a number of localities to express their joy at the ECP’s decision.

Former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz said that Imran Niazi has been declared dishonest by the ECP, while the foreign funding case against him has also been proved.

He said the PTI chairman was caught red-handed devouring the gifts of Toshakhana and the evidence showed that Imran was also corrupt as he sold out state-owned gifts as prime minister.

Hamza regretted that the ‘illegal’ and ‘unethical’ steps of the former prime minister damaged Pakistan’s relations with brotherly states and demanded that the original price of the gifts also be recovered from him.

“Those who raised their fingers at the credibility of the state institutions must be ashamed.”

Punjab PPP General-Secretary Syed Hasan Murtaza welcomed the decision and said the decision was expected because Imran himself “confessed” that he had sold the gifts of Toshakhana to build a road in Bani Gala. He recalled the past decisions in which disqualifications of prime ministers (Yusuf Raza Gilani and Nawaz Sharif Sharif) were accepted, he urged Imran to also accept the decision and approach the relevant forum for appeal.

He advised the followers of the PTI chairman not to create a law and order situation in the country through violent protests.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2022