Imran Khan to challenge disqualification by ECP, alleges CEC of bias

• Already knew about disqualification: PTI chairman.
• Khan asks supporters to stop protesting, prepare for long march.
• Former premier says will fight thieves till he's alive.

ISLAMABAD: Reacting to the Election Commission of Pakistan's verdict to disqualify him in the Toshakhana reference, PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan Friday said he will challenge the decision.

"I already knew about the disqualification," he said while alleging the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja of being "biased."

In a pre-recorded message, Khan said he will approach the court against ECP's verdict and blamed the CEC chief for issuing verdicts against the PTI.

He claimed that the CEC was the coalition government's man.

"I told everyone last night about the result [disqualification]," Khan said, repeating that he knew about the ECP's decision beforehand.

"For as long as I'm alive, I will fight these thieves," Khan said, alleging the ECP of being a mafia.

"The mafia is trying to end Pakistan's biggest party," he remarked.

The PTI chief's address comes after he was disqualified by the ECP in the Toshakhana case against him in which he has been accused of stealing gifts given to the government of Pakistan and selling them off in the name of charity.

'Nation should be prepared'

"The nation should be prepared. I will give you a call anytime," Khan told PTI supporters.

The former premier also directed his workers to stop protesting and focus on the upcoming long march.

Informing about his party's political power show in the upcoming days, the PTI chief said that such a massive jalsa has never ever happened in Pakistan.

"The protests won't just end at the long march. The 'Haqiqi Azadi' (true freedom) movement will continue. We stand at a decisive juncture," Khan said.

Indicating towards the chaos that has ensued in the current political climate in Pakistan, the PTI chief said: "What happened when East Pakistan was separated from us?"

'Bought the flat with halal money'

Commenting on the legitimacy of his property, the former prime minister said that he used to play cricket and had bought a flat 34 years ago.

"I bought the flat with halal (lawful) money. I sold it and brought the money to Pakistan," he said.

He added that despite declaring his assets, he has been disqualified while bigger thieves — with cases worth billion of rupees filed against them are being saved.

"I brought my money to the country through banks and showed the receipts in the court, while Nawaz Sharif could not present a single receipt to prove where he got the money from," Khan claimed.

Khan, in his message, also expressed his annoyance at being brought to the same level as PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

"Nawaz Sharif is a thief. His children possess big palaces," he said.

Cypher reason for ouster

The former PM repeated his claim of the cypher's presence which, according to him, became the reason for his ouster.

Recalling the events of May 25 following his ouster from the PM's Office, the PTI chief said: "Police assaulted innocent citizens on May 25. Terrorist cases were filed against me."

Khan said that despite his 26 years of struggle for the rule of law, cases were being lodged against him. He also complained about terror cases filed against his party member Shehbaz Gill.

The PTI chief accused PPP Co-chairman and former president of Pakistan Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif of breaching the Toshakhana law.

Comparing PTI's outreach with that of other political parties in Pakistan, Khan claimed they have shrunk into provincial parties.

He criticised Pakistan's other political parties for reducing themselves to "family parties".