Imran Khan barred from elections over corruption charges

The decision is the latest twist in political wrangling that began even before Mr. Khan’s April ouster, and is one of several legal battles being fought by him and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

Police use teargas to disperse protesters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during a demonstration against the decision to disqualify former Prime Minister Imran Khan running for political office in Islamabad on October 21, 2022. | Photo Credit: AFP

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was disqualified on Friday from running for political office for five years, after the election commission ruled he misled officials about gifts he got from foreign leaders while in power.

The decision is the latest twist in political wrangling that began even before Mr. Khan’s April ouster, and is one of several legal battles being fought by him and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

His supporters attacked vehicles as they left the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) headquarters after the ruling. “The ECP has declared Imran Khan was involved in corrupt practices,” said Gohar Khan, one of his lawyers. “We will challenge it in the High Court right now.”

The police detained one of Khan’s security guards after he fired a shot into the ground.

In the eastern city of Lahore, his supporters blocked some roads, while in Faisalabad, they used burning tyres to stop traffic. On Twitter, Islamabad police said security in the capital was on “high alert”.

Pakistan’s courts are often used to tie up lawmakers in lengthy proceedings that rights monitors criticise for stifling political opposition, but the commission’s involvement in this case stems from the obligation of elected officials to declare all their assets.

The case centres on a government department known as ‘Toshakhana’, which during the Mughal era referred to the “treasure houses” kept by the sub-continent’s princely rulers to store and display gifts lavished on them.

Government officials must declare all gifts, but are allowed to keep those below a certain value.

More expensive items must go to Toshakhana, but in some cases the recipient can buy them at around 50% of their value—a discount Mr. Khan raised from 20% while in office.

Mr. Khan has said he did not register some gifts on national security grounds, but in a written submission admitted buying items worth nearly 22 million rupees ($100,000), and later selling them for more than twice that amount.

Unless overturned by the courts, Mr. Khan’s ban will stymie one of his key tactics to disrupt the country’s political process as he presses for a general election ahead of the one scheduled for October next year.

All PTI lawmakers have quit the National Assembly — Parliament’s lower house — forcing a series of by-elections.