The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) began removing Imran Khan as PTI chairman on Monday after his disqualification in the Toshakhana matter.
ECP officials say a notification was sent to the PTI head, and a hearing is set for December 13.
The magazine reported that the Election Commission would also resume hearing on a show cause notice to the PTI on the same day.
A top PTI politician questioned the legitimacy of the notice issued to the party chairman and said he would write to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja for an explanation.
He argued there was no legal basis to remove a party leader and that convicted people may be party leaders or office-bearers.
The Elections Act 2017 has not retained Section 5 (1) of the erstwhile Political Parties Order 2002, which read, “Every citizen, not in Pakistan’s service, shall have the right to form or be a member of a political party or be otherwise associated with a political party or take part in political activities or be elected as an office-bearer of a political party: provided that a person shall not be appointed or serve as an office-bearer of a political party.”
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, headed by then-chief justice Saqib Nisar in 2018, heard petitions challenging the Elections Act 2017.
Former premier Nawaz Sharif was deemed ineligible to be PML-N president.
In October, the commission disqualified Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63 (1) (p) for making ‘false statements and an incorrect declaration.’ The written order stated that the respondent had ‘intentionally and deliberately’ violated Sections 137, 167 and 173 of the Elections Act 2017, as he ‘has made false statements and an incorrect declaration before the commission in the statement of assets and liabilities.’
The ECP also added, “Accordingly, he (Imran Khan) ceases to be a National Assembly member, and judicial proceedings would be commenced against him under Section 190 (2) of the Elections Act 2017.”