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A Pakistani court has rejected a request by former Prime Minister Imran Khan to immediately suspend the Election Commission’s decision to disqualify him as a member of parliament after he was convicted of concealing assets.
Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah gave the former cricket star three days to reopen his appeal before seeking a stay of the order, local media reported.
The Geo TV channel said the judge, who wants Khan to file a full-file appeal, said there was no need to suspend the order immediately because his disqualification covers his current term in parliament and does not bar him from future polls.
Khan’s party spokesman Fawad Chowdhury said earlier by phone that the committee has not publicly released its full decision since Friday’s ruling, leading to confusion over the disqualification deadline.
Law Minister Azam Nazer Talal had said Khan would be disqualified from elections within five years, while Khan’s Pakistan Justice Movement party said the disqualification covered his current parliamentary seat.
Growing legal challenges against Khan have added to political uncertainty in a country reeling from dwindling foreign reserves, flooding and high inflation. Khan, however, is moving forward with plans to call for a protest march to Islamabad later this week as he tries to pressure Prime Minister Sheikh Baz Sharif to call early elections.
A five-member panel of the electoral commission issued a brief order on Friday, saying Khan committed “acts of corruption” by not disclosing the money he earned from the sale of gifts to various foreign dignitaries. Pakistani law does not prohibit lawmakers from selling such gifts, but hiding the transactions is illegal.
Talal said last week that the government could bring criminal charges against Khan for making false statements to the electoral commission. Convictions in criminal cases lead to prison terms, and Khan can be barred from participating in politics or holding any public office.
(Pakistan court proceedings update.)
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