Pakistan elections board bars Imran Khan from public office

Pakistan's election commission disqualified former Prime Minister Imran Khan from holding public office. Khan is alleged to have unlawfully sold state gifts from other world leaders.

Pakistan's elections board on Friday disqualified former Prime Minister Imran Khan on charges of concealing assets.

The country's coalition government filed a complaint against Khan in August for "not sharing details" of gifts and proceeds from their alleged sale.

The decision disqualifies Khan from his seat in the National Assembly. It also stops him from running for political office for five years. 

Khan's lawyer Gohar Khan said his team would immediately challenge the decision in the Islamabad High Court.

The board's decision comes months after the parliament ousted Khan through a no-confidence vote.

In response, Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf party urged supporters to take to the streets to peacefully condemn the commission's decision.

"We don't accept this decision. The people of Pakistan won't accept this," said Khan's close aide Fawad Chaudhry.

The case hinges around a government department known as the "Toshakhana," which refers to Mughal-era treasure houses kept by royal rulers to store and display gifts bestowed on them.

Although Government officials have to declare all gifts, they are allowed to keep those below a certain value and in some cases they can buy back more expensive presents at a discount.