ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan electoral watchdog has barred former foreign minister and senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Shah Mahmood Qureshi, from contesting elections for a five-year period following his conviction in the cipher case.
A notification issued by the ECP states that the former foreign minister has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty in the cipher case.
“In consequence, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi is disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017. Therefore, Mr. Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi is ineligible to participate in General Elections-2024 and any subsequent elections for a period of five years,” reads the notification.
It is pertinent to mention here that on January 30 last month, former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his close associate Shah Mehmood Qureshi were awarded a 10-year imprisonment sentence in the cipher case.
The verdict was delivered by the special court established under the Official Secrets Act, following the recording of statements from the accused under Section 342 during the hearing at Adiala jail.
