Imran Khan: Former Pakistan PM barred from holding public office - BBC

Pakistan's predetermination committee has disqualified ex-PM Imran Khan from holding nationalist bureau successful a lawsuit the erstwhile cricketer has described arsenic politically motived.

Mr Khan had been accused of incorrectly declaring details of presents from overseas dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale.

The gifts included Rolex watches, a ringing and a brace of cuff links.

His lawyers accidental they volition situation the commission's verdict successful the precocious court.

Mr Khan called connected his supporters to travel retired and protestation the determination connected Friday, saying that cardinal rights and ideology had been buried successful Pakistan.

Videos connected societal media showed constabulary firing teardrop state to disperse his supporters holding a protestation extracurricular the superior Islamabad. Security successful the metropolis has been stepped up.

Hours later, Mr Khan asked radical to extremity their protest.

According to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, the written ruling says Mr Khan "made mendacious connection [sic] and incorrect declaration earlier the committee successful the connection of assets and liabilities filed by him for the twelvemonth 2020-21" and truthful attracted disqualification.

As a effect of the disqualification, helium "ceases to beryllium a subordinate of the National Assembly of Pakistan and his spot has go vacant accordingly", the ruling adds.

Legal experts cited by Dawn construe this arsenic Mr Khan being disqualified till the extremity of the existent National Assembly term, which started successful 2018.

The unanimous determination by a five-member sheet of the predetermination committee is simply a immense setback for the erstwhile premier, says the BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan. Imran Khan remains hugely popular.

Mr Khan admitted past period to having sold astatine slightest 4 gifts helium had received during his tenure arsenic premier minister, and that they had been included successful his income taxation returns.

Government officials indispensable state each gifts, but are allowed to support those beneath a definite value. In immoderate cases, the recipient tin bargain them backmost astatine astir 50%, AFP quality bureau reports.

Mr Khan - who has denied the charges against him - antecedently said helium had not made nationalist immoderate gifts connected nationalist information grounds, but successful a written submission admitted buying items worthy astir $100,000 (£90,000), and aboriginal selling them for much than doubly that amount, AFP says.

Faisal Chaudhry, a lawyer successful Mr Khan's team, has told Reuters quality bureau the predetermination committee tribunal has nary jurisdiction successful the substance and that the determination volition beryllium challenged.

Since then, helium has been a vocal professional of the authorities and the country's army.

The erstwhile person has toured the state to present a bid of fiery speeches calling for caller elections.

The charismatic person was elected premier curate successful 2018, but fell retired with Pakistan's almighty service towards the extremity of his tenure. After a bid of defections, helium mislaid his bulk successful parliament.