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Pakistan’s election commission has found former prime minister Imran Khan guilty of corruption. Friday’s unanimous decision from the commission means that Khan is barred from running for office for five years.
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The election commission’s ruling means that Khan will lose his seat in parliament. The top tribunal found him guilty of failing to disclose and unlawfully selling gifts received from foreign diplomats and heads of state during trips abroad.
Khan has denied the charges against him and plans to appeal the findings in Pakistan’s high court.
“This is a totally illegal decision and it has political reasons, no legal ground,” said Fawad Chaudhry, a senior leader of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, following the decision.
Protests are expected in Pakistan on Friday as a result of the ruling, The Washington Post has reported.
Previously, Khan admitted to selling four gifts he was given while prime minister. The gifts included Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cuff links, the BBC reports.
Under Pakistani law, elected officials must declare all gifts they receive or the profits they earn from them, but are able to keep some gifts if their value is below 30,000 rupees ($136). Over that amount, recipients who keep the gift must pay 50% of its value.