Judge recuses himself from hearing disqualification petition against PM Imran

Islamabad, Mar 11: A second petition seeking disqualification of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for not being "honest and righteous" during last year's general elections was adjourned indefinitely on Monday after a judge recused himself citing "personal reasons", a media report said.

Earlier on January 21, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had quashed a similar petition, terming it "non-maintainable" as it involved personal matters.

A two-member LHC bench comprising Justice Shahid Wahid and Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh, who headed the bench, heard the petitions.

Justice Waheed recused himself from the cases due to "personal reasons", the Dawn newspaper reported.

A request was sent to the high court's chief justice to nominate another judge for the bench, it said.

The two petitioners claimed that Khan concealed his alleged parentage of Tyrian Jade Khan White in his nomination papers filed for the 2018 general elections.

During the hearing, the state prosecutor argued that both the petitioners did not belong to the constituency from where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief had contested the election.

He said that only a voter of the constituency could challenge the eligibility of prime minister Khan.

The court, however, raised questions over the state lawyer's argument and said that the petition could be filed at any stage.

"Imran Khan did not mention White as one of his dependents in his nomination papers, and thus he does not measure up to Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution," the petitions read.

Articles 62 and 63, set the precondition for a member of parliament to be "sadiq and ameen" (honest and righteous).

Tyrian White is the daughter of Ana-Luisa (Sita) White, the daughter of the late Lord Gordon White. It has often been alleged that Tyrian is Khan's daughter.