In accordance with Article 63 (1)(h) of the Constitution, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) barred Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), from running for office for a period of five years. The electoral authority has disqualified the senior politician from running in the general elections that are scheduled for next week on February 8 and any following elections, according to a notice that was sent out. According to the notification, Qureshi was found guilty in the cypher case by the special court formed under the Official Secrets Act. As a result, he was disqualified under Article 63 (1) (h) of the Constitution and sentenced to ten years of hard labour. In the cypher case, Qureshi and PTI founder Imran Khan were given 10-year sentences on January 30.