Impious Imran to be thrown out?

LAHORE: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan might lose his National Assembly seat in the coming weeks. The Election Commission of Pakistan has fixed July 16 for hearing the disqualification references filed against the Tehrik-e-Insaaf chief by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

The decision was taken on Tuesday at a meeting of the Election Commission of Pakistan, chaired by Justice (retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq, the chief election commissioner.

It was decided that notice will be issued to the respondent on  July 16. Stung by Imran’s decision to approach the British government for extraditing its self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain, the MQM filed a disqualification reference with Speaker National Assembly, or the lower house of Parliament, under Article 62 and Article 63 of the Constitution. Dubbed as piety laws, these two articles disqualify anyone who is not a pious Muslim from the Parliament.

In its disqualification reference against Imran, 18 MQM legislators have accused him of fathering an illegitimate child with his ex-girlfriend, Sita White.

The reference cites the verdict of the Los Angeles court which on July 30, 1997, declared Imran to be the father of Tyrian Jade, the daughter of Anna Louise, aka Sita White.

Since Imran never challenged the court verdict, the MQM reference argues he tacitly accepts the guilt of committing pre-nuptial sex, which Islam prohibits.

The Speaker of the National Assembly had forwarded the reference against Imran to the Election Commission of Pakistan, which must deliver its verdict within the next 90 days, by September 20.