Imran barred from public office, protests erupt across major cities

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s Election Commission on Friday barred former premier Imran Khan from holding public office after finding him guilty of illegally selling gifts from foreign dignitaries and heads of state, sparking protests by his supporters in several cities.

The election tribunal’s ruling came as a major blow for the 70-year-old cricketer-turnedpolitician, who was ousted from the post of prime minister in a no-confidence vote in April. It followed his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s victory in by-elections on Sunday, with Khan himself winning in six parliamentary seats, and impressive wins in bypolls in the politically crucial Punjab province in July.

Khan was accused of misusing his position during his 2018-2022 premiership to buy and sell gifts received during visits abroad that were in the official gift depository and worth more than Pakistani Rs 140 million ($635,000).