ISLAMABAD: In an apparent bid to avert the question of his eligibility or for some other reasons, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and deposed prime minister Imran Khan has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan to de-notify him as the Member National Assembly from NA-45 (Kurram-I) constituency wherein he was notified as the returned candidate in the by-election held in October 2022.
“We reiterate that our client shall not be taking oath as a member of the National Assembly with respect to NA-45, Kurram-I,” read a letter drafted by Imran Khan’s counsel Salman Akram Raja to the Election Commission. The PTI chief’s letter asked the ECP that it must de-notify him as the returned candidate from the constituency forthwith.
“PTI the only true federal political party”
Imran, in his earlier letter dated February 20, had written that he had taken part in the by-poll to show that the PTI had the overwhelming support of the people across the country. He further said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was the only true national political party.
“The term of the present National Assembly is to expire on 18-08-2023. The fact that the notification dated 19-01-2023 was issued with a delay of over three months after the conduct of [the] by-election in October 2022 reflects malice. The fact that fresh general elections for the National Assembly are necessary [has] been established by the success of the undersigned in the by-elections,” he continued.
Imran Khan’s legal team, led by Salman Akram Raja, has also submitted these letters to the IHC, which is hearing a petition seeking Khan’s disqualification over concealing his alleged daughter, Tyrian Jade White, in his nomination papers. Similarly, Imran Khan has also filed a reply with the Islamabad High Court, wherein it was stated that an MNA-elect did not hold a public office and, therefore, no petition under Article 199 could be maintained against him.
“In any case, the answering respondent [Imran] is not even an MNA-elect after having intimated to the ECP of his intention not to make oath with respect to NA-45 (Kurram-I). The inaction on the part of the ECP is collusive and cannot be held against the answering respondent. The ECP is under an obligation to act forthwith and announce a date for the by-election for NA-45,” the reply read.
