ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided to indict former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan in a case related to the contempt of the electoral body.
In August 2022, the ECP issued notices to Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, and Asad Umar for allegedly using intemperate language against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja and terming the electoral body as a “subsidiary” of the PML-N
A four-member commission headed by ECP Sindh member Nisar Durrani announced the reserved verdict on the reservations raised by the PTI. The ECP rejected the reservations of the PTI leaders said the accused did not appear before the electoral body.
During the hearing, Advocate Faisal Chaudhry appeared before the electoral watchdog on behalf of the parties. He maintained that his clients had not received any previous hearing orders from the ECP.
Durrani replied that the parties were absent from even the current hearing. He announced the decision which stated that the commission had the authority to hold contempt of court proceedings.
ECP adjourned the further hearing into the contempt case until July 11. It also summoned all three accused in a personal capacity for the upcoming hearing.
The ECP had initiated contempt proceedings against the three for issuing statements against the electoral body and the chief election commissioner.
The commission had previously announced its decision to issue bailable arrest warrants for senior party leaders in January for failing to appear before the commission in contempt proceedings.
The arrest warrants issued were suspended by the Lahore High Court. The court asked the ECP to determine the case was within its domain and asked the electoral body to continue working as per law.
Asad Umar has already apologized to the ECP in the contempt case. Umar stated that there was no intention in his statements regarding the ECP that should be seen as an insult.
