Former prime minister disqualified from being a member of parliament over ‘corrupt practices’.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The Election Commission of Pakistan has unanimously found former Prime Minister Imran Khan guilty of "corrupt practices" and disqualified him from parliament.

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party immediately rejected Friday's verdict. She said she would appeal to the Islamabad High Court and called on supporters to take to the streets.

The lawsuit against Khan was filed in August by a member of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), alleging that the former prime minister bought gifts from foreign dignitaries from the state's gift depository (also called Toshakhana) but failed to disclose the assets. in statements submitted to the commission.

Talking to reporters after the verdict, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry called the commission's decision "embarrassing" and a "slap in the face" of the Pakistani people.

“This verdict is not an attack on Imran Khan alone. It is an attack on the constitution of Pakistan and its people,” he said.

Khan, who was removed from his post by a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April, accused the commission of bias and branded its head, Sikandar Sultan Raja, of prejudice against him and his party.


The Toshakhan Controversy

The Toshakhana controversy erupted last year when it was revealed that Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi had bought gifts from Toshakhana and later sold them in the market at discounted prices.

The PTI, which was the ruling party at the time, initially expressed reluctance to reveal details of the gifts given to Khan, claiming it could potentially jeopardize Pakistan's foreign relations.

The Gift Depository is a government department created in the 1970s that holds gifts made by heads of state and other foreign dignitaries to rulers, legislators, government officials and functionaries.

Toshakhana rules state that all donations must be submitted to the department. However, they can be purchased later. Although selling gifts is not strictly illegal, many consider it unethical and morally wrong.

The case filed against Khan states that the former prime minister received a total of 58 boxes containing various items during his tenure in office.

PMLN petitioner Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha said the former prime minister was legally required to declare all assets belonging to him, his wife and family members to the commission at the end of every financial year.

The link argued that failing to do so would make Khan "dishonest", thereby disqualifying him from participating in parliamentary politics for life under the Pakistani constitution.

Khan was also accused of "deliberately" hiding the gifts he bought from Toshakhana, but later admitted to selling the gifts without disclosing the details to the commission.