ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Fawad Chaudhry gave a nationwide protest call after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified the party chief and former prime minister in the Toshakhana reference on Friday.
Speaking to the media outside the ECP headquarters, the PTI leader said that the verdict was “expected” and party workers and supporters should come out to record their protest.
“The public should come out of their homes for their rights,” he said.
“This decision is a slap in the face of 222 million people. People should come out against for their rights against it. Revolution has started in Pakistan today. The whole nation rejects this decision. Now the Constitution can be saved only by toppling these houses of power”, he said.
Earlier, the ECP disqualified PTI chief Imran Khan for five years under Article 63(i) (iii) for submitting a false statement in the Toshakhana reference.
A four-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, announced the verdict at the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad.
The ECP bench unanimously disqualified Khan for five years. During the announcement of the verdict, the ECP member from Punjab was not present as was reported to be ill.
The ECP verdict said that criminal proceedings will be initiated against the former premier for misdeclaration.
Earlier, strict security measures had been put in place at the ECP headquarters ahead of the ECP verdict.
The incumbent government filed the Toshakhana reference against Imran Khan in August for “not sharing details” of the Toshakhana gifts and proceeds with the ECP after their alleged sale.
