Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is facing contempt charges from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), marking another legal challenge in the wake of his removal from office in April 2022. The 71-year-old ex-cricket star has been absent from public view since his three-year imprisonment in August, related to the unlawful sale of state gifts during his tenure from 2018 to 2022.
The ECP initiated contempt proceedings against Khan and other leaders of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Imran Khan’s lawyer, Naeem Haider Panjutha, alleges that the Election Commission indicted Khan in the absence of lawyers. Khan, known as the country’s most popular leader, vehemently denies all charges, attributing them to alleged persecution by the military to keep him out of elections—a claim that the military denies.
Recent legal setbacks include a high court rejecting Khan’s request to suspend his disqualification from contesting elections. These legal battles further contribute to the political turmoil surrounding Imran Khan since his ousting from the prime ministerial office, highlighting the complexities of his post-premiership challenges.
