SC summons Imran Khan to justify money trail in disqualification case

ISLMABAD - A three member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar has summoned PTI Chairman Imran Khan tomorrow (Wednesday) for the hearing of a petition seeking his disqualification.

During today's hearing, the Chief Justice said certain important questions were raised in the case pertaining to the money trail of the former cricket captain regarding his purchase of Bani Gala property.

"The money trail of one of Khan's accounts is vague," remarked the Chief Justice.

In response to PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari's statement that the PTI chief was able to purchase property through his income from playing cricket, the bench inquired about details of the former cricketer's savings and documentation of bank accounts.

Bukhari said he would provide the details to the court but the Chief Justice said Imran Khan should appear in person and explain his position.

The disqualification petition was moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Hanif Abbasi against PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

Abbasi's petition accuses the PTI leader of not declaring his assets to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and seeks to unseat him based on alleged violations of the Income Tax Ordinance 1979 and Peoples Act 1974.

The PML-N leader’s petition claims that Jemima Goldsmith –Imran’s first wife – did not file her income tax, during her time in Pakistan, suggesting that she was, in fact, a dependent on her former husband and had no taxable income.

Abbasi claimed that Imran was bound to declare the assets of Jemima before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in his nomination papers during the relevant period, but he avoided it.