The single bench of the Lahore High Court has referred former PTI chairman Imran Khan’s application in which the latter challenged his disqualification in the Toshakhana case to the chief justice. LHC Justice Shujaat Ali Khan on Friday heard the petition filed by the former premier and ex-PTI chief Imran Khan. During the proceedings, the judge sent the case file to the LHC chief justice suggesting him to refer the case to a five-judge larger bench which is already hearing a set of petitions of similar nature under the head of Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan. “It will be appropriate if the same larger bench hears this petition too,” Justice Shaukat Ali Khan recommended. The judge conducted the proceedings on Imran Khan’s petition at his chamber. Barrister Ali Zafar appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioner. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and others have been made respondents in the petition. The petitioner has alleged that the ECP unconstitutionally and illegally disqualified him in excess of its authority and that attempts are being made to keep him and his party out of the upcoming elections.

The petitioner has argued that the ECP is a constitutional body whose job is to conduct fair and transparent elections, not to act as a court of law. He claimed that the ECP issued a notification of disqualification on August 8, which was against the constitution and the law. He has requested the court to declare the notification as unconstitutional and to suspend it until the final decision of the case. Illegal Nikah case adjourned A district and sessions court in Islamabad has adjourned the proceedings of the illegal Nikah case against former premier Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi till December 11. Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah heard the case on Friday. At the outset of the hearing, petitioner’s lawyer Raja Abbasi requested the court to grant him more time till Monday to submit documentary proofs in the court. He said that he would also present his arguments on the maintainability of the case on that very day. Accepting the lawyer’s plea, the judge adjourned the case till December 11.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)