By Special Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will resume the proceedings in the contempt case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and tw2o more senior party leaders as Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry, tomorrow (Tuesday).
A four-member ECP bench led by Sindh member Nisar Durrani will hear the contempt case on May 23. The ECP has issued notices to the accused PTI central leaders. Additionally, the hearing of the prohibited funding case against the PTI will also resume on May 23. A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja will hear the prohibited funding case against the PTI.
Earlier this month, a reference was filed in the ECP against PTI chief Imran Khan and former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar. The reference was filed by the PML-N leaders Atta Tarar and Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan under the Election Act 2017 and Article 218 (3). Ex-Chif Justice Saqib Nisar’s son Najam Saqib, PTI leaders Ijaz Chaudhry, Asad Umar, Mian Aziz and Abuzar were made respondents in the reference. They asked the ECP to take action against the accused on the allegations of bribery, corruption and corrupt practices.
The reference also included a summary of the leaked audio tape of ex-CJP Saqib Nisar’s son Najam Saqib. Lists of the PTI ticket holders and other detailed record has also been attached with the reference. The reference stated that the ‘sale’ of party tickets for the Punjab assembly elections is going on and that one party was violating the law and constitution. Furthermore, the ECP was urged to remove Imran Khan from the PTI chairmanship and conduct an investigation into the matter.
