Pakistan Government To Move To Top Court To Seek Disqualification Of Former Premier

Pakistani government announced Thursday that it is moving to the country's top court to seek the disqualification of former Prime Minister Imran Khan for receiving prohibited funds through foreign sources.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said at a news conference in the capital, Islamabad, that the Law Ministry has been assigned with the task of preparing a "declaration" to be sent to the Supreme Court within the next three days.

If the move is successful, Khan would be prohibited from holding public office in the future.

The development came days after the Election Commission ruled that Khan's party "knowingly" and "willfully" received prohibited funding through foreign sources to run his party and electoral affairs.

The unanimous verdict, announced Tuesday by a three-member bench of the Election Commission, said the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party received funds from 351 companies and 34 individuals from the US, UK, Australia, United Arab Emirates, and other countries.

The individuals included Pakistani-origin business tycoon Arif Naqvi, who is facing money laundering charges in the UK and US.

The election commission also found the PTI guilty of hiding 13 bank accounts.

Khan and other party members would also be investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency for "hiding bank accounts, money laundering, and misappropriation of funds," said Aurangzeb.

The former prime minister rejected the verdict and contended that the funds in question were not illegal when they were received in 2012.

Addressing a demonstration against the election authority via video link in Islamabad, the cricketer-turned-politician said that Naqvi was charged with money laundering charges in 2018, whereas he had raised funds for the PTI in 2012.

"How can I know this (money laundering) in 2012," he said.

Khan was prime minister from 2018 until April when he was ousted in a parliament no-confidence vote.

He contends he was removed in a US-sponsored conspiracy and has been rallying supporters for a new election due in 2023. -