The Islamabad High Court has rejected former PTI chairman Imran Khan’s application for withdrawal of his appeal against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s verdict in the Toshakhana reference.
IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq pronounced the verdict he had reserved on September 13 after hearing arguments from both parties.
Imran Khan had filed an application with the high court to withdraw his appeal on January 18. On October 21, 2022, the ECP had disqualified the former prime minister in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p) for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”.
He first challenged the verdict in the Islamabad High Court and then later filed an application with the IHC to withdraw the challenge, as a similar appeal against the verdict for withdrawal was pending with the Lahore High Court.
His lawyer, Barrister Ali Zafar, contended in the appeal to withdraw the application that a similar application against the ECP verdict was being heard in the Lahore High Court. Imran Khan maintained that he wanted to withdraw the application from the IHC and pursue the case in the LHC.
The election commission’s lawyer said that the application was first filed in the IHC so it should be heard here.
The reserved verdict said that the appeal will be heard at the Islamabad High Court. A detailed verdict would be issued later on why the appeal was rejected.
