Imran Khan barred from elections for five
International Desk
Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was disqualified Friday from running for political office for five years, after the country's election commission ruled he misled officials about gifts he received from foreign leaders while in power.
The decision is another twist in political wrangling that began even before Khan's April ouster, and is one of several legal battles being fought by the former international cricket star and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
"The ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan) has declared Imran Khan was involved in corrupt practices," Gohar Khan, one of his lawyers, told reporters, adding he had been disqualified for five years.
"We are going to challenge it in the Islamabad high court right now." Pakistan's courts are often used to tie up lawmakers in lengthy proceedings that rights monitors criticise for stifling political opposition, but the commission's involvement in this case stems from the obligation of elected officials to declare all their assets.
