ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ruled against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan, declaring him ineligible from holding public office under Article 63(i)(p) after announcing its verdict in the Toshakhana reference.

A four-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, announced the verdict in the Toshakhan case in which the PTI leader was accused of selling gifts he received in his capacity as head of government from dignatries of other countries. The decision was unanimously reached by the five-member bench but one member from Punjab was not present at today’s announcement.

Article 63 (1) (p) of the Constitution states that an individual is, for the time being, disqualified from being elected or chosen as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament) or of a provincial assembly under any law for the time being in force.

The five-member bench had reserved its verdict on September 19.

He was accused of misdeclaration of assets, including non-disclosure of receipts from the sale of gifts he received from foreign dignitaries.

As a result of the verdict, Imran’s seat in the National Assembly will be vacated. The six seats on which he won the by-election will also be up for grabs.

Imran will also face criminal proceedings over the misdeclaration.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, speaking to the media after the verdict, called it shameful and an attack on law and institution.

“This is a slap in the face of the people of Pakistan,” he said while urging supporters to come out on the streets to protest against the verdict.

Shahbaz Gill, who served as Imran Khan’s pointperson, claimed that PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif authored the verdict, “which was read out by his personal servant”.

He said that the party would raise the issue at every fora, adding that people would come out on the street against the verdict.

Senator Faisal Javed said that the party would challenge the ECP verdict, adding that a party meeting was underway and decisions would be announced shortly.

Party leader Asad Umer confirmed the same in a tweet, saying that the minus-Imran formula won’t work.

Meanwhile, Imran’s rivals including the PML-N welcomed the verdict.

“Pakistan’s first certified liar and certified thief disqualified with irrefutable evidence of theft,” tweeted PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

Maryam has consistently claimed, in public appearances and interviews, that Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi were siphoning state funds and using their authority for personal gains.

She added that disqualification wasn’t enough and that Imran should be presented in a court of law and the embezzled funds recovered.

PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who has often been on the wrong end of Imran’s jibes, found karmic justice in the ECP verdict against Imran.

“He who would spread lies about alleged corruption of his political opponents has been caught red-handed,” tweeted the foriegn minister.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a ceremony claimed that there were still many cases under which Imran should be punished. “I think Toshakhana is a small case and I think foreign funding case is important. He took money from India and Israel.”

He described today’s decision as a “start” and hinted that more such decisions would come in the future. “Imran would be tensed and he can review it. But, I suggest him to retire at this age and let the nation and people live,” he said, adding that the PTI chief used to call others thieves, and now Imran has been declared a “thief”.

To a query, he said that Parliament was an appropriate forum to start talks.