In a significant blow to former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political aspirations, the Lahore High Court upheld the rejection of his nomination papers for the upcoming February 8 general elections, as reported by Dawn News. The decision, which marks the end of Imran Khan’s hopes to participate in the electoral race, was based on the grounds of his conviction in the Toshakhana case and the proposer’s ineligibility in the NA-122 constituency.

The Lahore High Court supported the rulings of the returning officer (RO) and appellate tribunal, which had rejected Imran Khan’s nomination papers from NA-122 and NA-89 constituencies. The primary reason cited for the rejection was Imran Khan’s conviction in the Toshakhana case, where he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The case, brought by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), accused Imran Khan of failing to disclose details of state gifts in his tax declarations.

Imran Khan’s nomination papers from NA-122 were additionally dismissed due to the proposer not being a voter from the constituency.

The appellate tribunals had previously upheld the decisions of the respective ROs, arguing that the conviction and sentence were distinct terms, with conviction signifying a guilty verdict and sentence referring to the punishment following conviction.

Earlier, Imran Khan had filed a writ petition with the Lahore High Court against the election appellate tribunal’s rejection of his appeal regarding the nomination papers’ rejection by the RO.

During the hearing, Imran Khan’s counsel contended that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lacked the authority to disqualify an individual. The argument centered on the conviction for moral turpitude, asserting that it did not fall under the definition of disqualification.

Advocate Uzair Bhandari, representing Imran Khan, emphasized that the standards of morality in Pakistan differed from other regions, and the RO had no jurisdiction to pass the order based on the conviction for moral turpitude. However, the court observed that the local standards of morality would be considered.

The Lahore High Court’s decision concludes Imran Khan’s legal efforts to contest the upcoming elections, raising questions about the political landscape in Pakistan as the country prepares for the polls.

Sources By Agencies