As polls near, Pakistan's ex-premier Khan challenges disqualification

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan’s jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday challenged his five-year disqualification by the country’s top electoral body in a high court ahead of the general elections scheduled on Feb. 8 next year, a court record said.

Khan, who is currently in a jail in the northeastern garrison city of Rawalpindi, was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in August following his conviction in a case that accused him of illegally purchasing and selling foreign gifts he received as prime minister.

The development comes a day after the Islamabad High Court rejected Khan’s request to withdraw his appeal against his disqualification.

The three-year sentence was later suspended by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which also ordered his release on bail. However, he was arrested in another case that accused him of exposing state secrets.

In his fresh petition, Khan has pleaded with the Lahore High Court to declare his disqualification “unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.”

Khan, who served as prime minister of Pakistan from 2018-2022, lost a vote of confidence in parliament in April 2022, one year short of completing his term.