ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) while rejecting the reservations expressed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has decided to indict the former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan and other accused in contempt of ECP case on July 11.
Faisal Chaudhry pleaded before the ECP that he was representing PTI supremo Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhary and Asad Umar. Member ECP, Nisar Durrani said the respondents should appear in person as the electoral watchdog has decided to frame charges against the respondents.
A four-member bench of Commission headed by Nisar Durani announced the reserved verdict. The hearing has been adjourned till July 11.
Last year, the ECP had initiated contempt proceedings against the PTI leaders for allegedly using inappropriate language against the chief election commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja and the electoral watchdog. The PTI leaders skipped several hearings at the ECP and later challenged its powers to initiate contempt proceedings under Section 10 of the Election Act 2017 in different courts.
Earlier this year, the ECP approached the Supreme Court and sought consolidation of all six petitions before a high court.
The apex court allowed the ECP to continue proceedings against the PTI leaders under Section 10 but it barred the electoral body from giving final verdict.
The PTI leadership have repeatedly lambasted the ECP and CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja as they termed the electoral body a “subsidiary of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz”.
Faisal Chaudhry told the ECP| today that his clients did not receive any notice for today’s hearing. Earlier, the arrest warrants issued for Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry were suspended by the Lahore High Court.
