SC disqualifies Jahangir Tareen, saves Imran Khan

The Supreme Court (SC) gave judgement on Friday in favor of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan in disqualification petition filed against him. The apex court, however, has disqualified party secretary general Jahangir Khan Tareen.

Tareen was disqualified under Article 62 of the Constitution, the same constitution under which deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified. The SC ruled that Tareen had not disclosed his off-shore company.

The SC has sent the foreign funding case to the Election Commission of Pakistan to consider, local media reported. It is the responsibility of the ECP to look at the foreign funding case in detail Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar said.

The petition was filed last year in November against Khan and Tareen by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi. In the petition, the two leaders were accused of running a foreign-aided party, owning offshore companies, for not disclosing their assets to the Election Commission of Pakistan and for violations of the lncome Tax Ordinance, 1979, and Peoples Act, 1974.

Judgment on Imran, Tareen disqualification to be announced on Friday

The three-judge bench, headed by Justice Nisar, includes Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Umar Ata Bandial. The bench had reserved its decision on November 14 after hearing arguments from the lawyers.

PTI members and supporters gathered outside the court to show solidarity with their party leaders, as Khan and Tareen are currently in Karachi on party business. While Abbasi along with PML-N leaders also appeared at court. Heavy police contingent have been present to control any untoward accident.

On October 18, Justice Nisar had announced that the verdict of both the cases would be given together.