LHC stops ECP from stripping Imran Khan of PTI chairmanship.

LAHORE -- The Lahore High Court (LHC) Thursday accepted Imran Khan's petition against the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision to strip the former premier of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) chairmanship after his disqualification in Toshakhana reference.

The PTI Chairman Imran Khan moved the LHC on Wednesday, challenging the ECP notice seeking to remove him as the party's chairman.

In the hearing, the ECP lawyer argued that the commission issued the notice based on the Speaker's reference, adding that "the constitution provides a provision to disqualify any assembly member".

Matters relating to disqualification are forwarded to the ECP, he added. The LHC accepted Imran Khan's request for a hearing and issued a notice, ordering the Election Commission to refrain from taking disciplinary action until the next hearing.

The electoral body had initiated the process to remove Khan as chairman of PTI last month, following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference, by issuing a notice.

In his petition, Khan maintained that the ECP...