'Certified thief': Coalition govt celebrates ECP's verdict against Imran Khan

Reacting to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to disqualify PTI chief Imran Khan, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif breathed a sigh of relief and advised Khan to "bow before the law."

“The Election Commission delivered justice in the Toshakhana reference as the nation has seen how he [Khan] used the post of the prime minister as a source of personal income,” he wrote on Twitter.

Earlier today, in a major legal victory for the ruling coalition, the ECP in a consensus-based verdict in Toshakana reference disqualified former prime minister Khan and ruled that he was no more a member of the National Assembly.

PM Shahbaz said the person who projected himself as an "idol of honesty and trust" has been shattered. He urged Khan to accept the decision instead of fighting the law and creating chaos in the country as “nobody is above the law.”

‘Certified thief’

Following the verdict, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz thanked Allah and said that the “certified thief”, who used to label all ruling lawmakers as thieves, was now having a taste of his own medicine.

Speaking to journalists outside her residence in London, Maryam said that after today’s decision and based on unverified proof, Khan has become a “certified thief”.

‘Caught red-handed’

Foreign Minister and PPP Co-Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also took to his Twitter handle to jubilate the decision made by the election body.

“Election Commission of Pakistan has found Imran Khan guilty of corrupt practices. He now stands disqualified. He who would spread lies about the alleged corruption of his political opponents has been caught red-handed,” Bilawal wrote.

Addressing a press conference, Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri warned Khan to avoid spreading chaos in the country.  “The politics of anarchy and bullying has neither been successful in the past not will it be now,” she said, urging him [Khan] to take legal action if he is angry over the verdict.

“The seed that Imran Khan sowed will also have to be reaped,” she said, adding that the PTI shouldn’t make the mistake of announcing protests in the country. 

Fazl congratulates nation 

Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman congratulated the entire nation on ECP's verdict, urging PTI and its supporters to avoid creating trouble for the public.

"We have also protested but never hurt anyone. We cannot allow mischief under the guise of protests."

'Imran Niazi proven hereditary thief'

Federal Minister for Health and PPP leader Qadir Patel, while reacting to ECP's decision against Khan, said that the commission has exposed the "so-called Sadiq and Ameen".

"Imran Niazi has been proven as a hereditary thief. Even though the foreign funding allegations against him have been proven, it is surprising that he is roaming scot-free," he said.

The minister added that Khan "stole money from charity and turned theft into a profession."

"A war between Qureshi and Khattak for the chairmanship of the PTI has begun," Patel claimed.