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Imran Khan: Former Pakistan PM barred from running for office Imran Khan: Former Pakistan PM barred from holding public office
(about 1 hour later)
Pakistan's election commission has disqualified ex-PM Imran Khan from holding public office in a case the former cricketer has previously described as politically motived.Pakistan's election commission has disqualified ex-PM Imran Khan from holding public office in a case the former cricketer has previously described as politically motived.
Mr Khan had been accused of not sharing details of presents from foreign dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale. Mr Khan had been accused of incorrectly declaring details of presents from foreign dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale.
The gifts included Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cuff links.The gifts included Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cuff links.
His lawyers say they will challenge the commission's verdict in the high court.His lawyers say they will challenge the commission's verdict in the high court.
According to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, the written ruling says Mr Khan "made false statement [sic] and incorrect declaration before the commission in the statement of assets and liabilities filed by him for the year 2020-21" and so attracted disqualification.
As a result of the disqualification, he "ceases to be a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and his seat has become vacant accordingly", the ruling adds.
Legal experts cited by Dawn interpret this as Mr Khan being disqualified till the end of the current National Assembly term, which started in 2018.
The unanimous decision by a five-member panel of the election commission is a huge setback for the former premier, says the BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan. Imran Khan remains hugely popular.The unanimous decision by a five-member panel of the election commission is a huge setback for the former premier, says the BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan. Imran Khan remains hugely popular.
It is unclear exactly how long the ban will last for. Mr Khan admitted last month to having sold at least four gifts he had received during his tenure as prime minister, and that they had been included in his income tax returns.
He admitted last month to having sold at least four gifts he had received during his tenure as prime minister, and that they had been included in his income tax returns.
Government officials must declare all gifts, but are allowed to keep those below a certain value. In some cases, the recipient can buy them back at around 50%, AFP news agency reports.Government officials must declare all gifts, but are allowed to keep those below a certain value. In some cases, the recipient can buy them back at around 50%, AFP news agency reports.
Mr Khan - who has denied the charges against him - previously said he had not made public some gifts on national security grounds, but in a written submission admitted buying items worth nearly $100,000 (£90,000), and later selling them for more than twice that amount, AFP says.Mr Khan - who has denied the charges against him - previously said he had not made public some gifts on national security grounds, but in a written submission admitted buying items worth nearly $100,000 (£90,000), and later selling them for more than twice that amount, AFP says.
Faisal Chaudhry, a lawyer in Mr Khan's team, has told Reuters news agency the election commission tribunal has no jurisdiction in the matter and that the decision will be challenged.Faisal Chaudhry, a lawyer in Mr Khan's team, has told Reuters news agency the election commission tribunal has no jurisdiction in the matter and that the decision will be challenged.
Mr Khan was ousted from power after he lost a no-confidence vote in April this year.Mr Khan was ousted from power after he lost a no-confidence vote in April this year.
Security had been stepped up in the capital, Islamabad, ahead of the commission's ruling.Security had been stepped up in the capital, Islamabad, ahead of the commission's ruling.
After the ruling, Khan's party spokesman Fawad Chaudhry called for supporters to come out on the streets to "topple this parliament".After the ruling, Khan's party spokesman Fawad Chaudhry called for supporters to come out on the streets to "topple this parliament".
A lot of protests have broken out across the country, reports BBC Urdu's Saher Baloch in Islamabad, who says Mr Khan's supporters have come out in Peshawar and Lahore as well as in Islamabad.
There is a sense of shock, she says, but Mr Khan's PTI party has said it was expecting that kind of a decision.
Videos on social media showed police firing tear gas to disperse Mr Khan's supporters holding a protest outside the capital Islamabad.
What led to Pakistan PM Imran Khan's downfallWhat led to Pakistan PM Imran Khan's downfall
The cricket hero bowled out as Pakistan's PMThe cricket hero bowled out as Pakistan's PM
Since being ousted from power in April, Mr Khan has been a vocal critic of the government and the country's army.Since being ousted from power in April, Mr Khan has been a vocal critic of the government and the country's army.
Since then, the former leader has toured the country to deliver a series of fiery speeches calling for fresh elections and fiercely criticising both the government and the army. The former leader has toured the country to deliver a series of fiery speeches calling for fresh elections.
The charismatic politician was elected prime minister in 2018, but fell out with Pakistan's powerful army towards the end of his tenure. After a series of defections, he lost his majority in parliament.The charismatic politician was elected prime minister in 2018, but fell out with Pakistan's powerful army towards the end of his tenure. After a series of defections, he lost his majority in parliament.
Watch: The BBC's Secunder Kermani went to a rally in April in Lahore, where Mr Khan was still drawing crowds of thousandsWatch: The BBC's Secunder Kermani went to a rally in April in Lahore, where Mr Khan was still drawing crowds of thousands
Watch: The BBC's Secunder Kermani went to a rally in April in Lahore, where Mr Khan was still drawing crowds of thousandsWatch: The BBC's Secunder Kermani went to a rally in April in Lahore, where Mr Khan was still drawing crowds of thousands