The Islamabad High Court has dismissed a petition aiming to disqualify Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), linked to the Tyrian White case. The petition alleged Khan’s failure to disclose White as his daughter in the nomination papers submitted for the 2018 general elections.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, a new bench comprising Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Arbab Mohammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz deliberated on the plea and ultimately rejected it.
This case, which had been lingering since May 2023, saw a twist when a previous three-member bench, led by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, was dissolved after conflicting opinions regarding the plea’s maintainability surfaced on the court website. Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Arbab Muhammad Tahir had voiced against the petition’s maintainability, but their opinions were removed from the official website due to lacking the signature of the bench head, Justice Farooq.
As the recent hearing commenced, Advocate Hamid Ali Shah, representing the petitioner, mentioned an adjournment petition filed by Salman Akram Raja.
Responding to the court, Khan’s lawyer, Naeem Haider Panjhuta, asserted that the matter had already been resolved, with the verdict previously uploaded on the website. Panjhuta further explained the reconstitution of the bench through a press release after the removal of the earlier verdict.
However, Advocate Shah emphasized that the petition’s dismissal was based on the opinion of two judges, lacking the endorsement of the chief justice.
Justice Jahangiri raised concerns about providing relief when the petition had been dismissed, prompting Advocate Shah to request time for preparation, indicating his need to review the verdict before further assistance.
The court, acknowledging the majority decision, reiterated that the disqualification plea against Khan had already been dismissed, solidifying its stance on the matter.
With the Islamabad High Court’s rejection of the petition, Imran Khan remains unaffected by disqualification proceedings related to the Tyrian White case, marking a legal victory for the PTI founder amidst ongoing political challenges.
