Pakistan’s Election Commission postpones the indictment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a contempt case until August 2

[ad_1]

A vehicle carrying Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan arrives at the Election Commission of Pakistan in Islamabad, Pakistan, July 25, 2023 | Photo credit: AP

The Election Commission of Pakistan on July 25 adjourned the charge against Imran Khan to August 2 in a case related to contempt of the apex electoral body and its head, after the former prime minister appeared before it in person for the first time.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) initiated contempt proceedings against Mr. Khan, 70, and former leaders of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry, last year for allegedly using foul language against the Chief Election Commissioner and the election watchdog.

The July 25 development came as the PTI chief appeared before the ECP for the first time since the case was taken up in October last year after the Election Commission of Pakistan on July 24 directed the Islamabad police to arrest Mr. Khan and produce him for that Tuesday.

But instead of appearing before the ECP, the three had challenged the ECP notices and contempt proceedings in various high courts on the grounds that Section 10 of the Elections Act 2017 – which is the statutory provision related to the commission’s power to punish for contempt – was unconstitutional.

The PTI leaders had also requested the high court for a declaratory relief from the charges.

But in January, the Supreme Court had allowed the ECP to proceed with the case against them and on June 21, the ECP had decided to press charges against the trio.

In the July 11 hearing, they failed to appear before the commission despite being summoned, following which the ECP issued arrest warrants for Mr. Chaudhry and Mr. Khan. However, it had accepted a plea from Umar’s lawyer to allow him a waiver from the hearing.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Mr. Khan appeared before the ECP bench along with his lawyer, Shoaib Shaheen. A member of the ECP bench stated that they intended to indict the former prime minister in the case, Dawn newspaper reported.

However, the PTI chief’s lawyer requested the election watchdog to adjourn the hearing as he needed more time to compile the case record, the newspaper said.

In response, the ECP argued that it is your responsibility to manage the file and case record. Subsequently, the watchdog accepted the lawyers’ plea and adjourned the indictment until August 2. It also directed him to ensure Khan’s presence during the next hearing.

After the hearing, Mr. Khan asked by reporters if he would apologize to the commission.

He responded by saying: Do you think I should apologize? Why should I give an apology when I made no mistake? When asked by a reporter if he would take more U-turns, Khan said he would continue to take U-turns.

Another journalist said that it appeared that Imran had become a lawyer, to which the PTI chief said: After so many cases, I have become a lawyer. Mr. Khan has faced dozens of cases in various courts that were filed after he was removed from power in April last year. Chaudhry, once a staunch supporter of Khan, quit PTI following the May 9 violence following Khan’s arrest in an alleged corruption case.

On July 20, former PTI leader Mr. Chaudhry an apology to the ECP in the contempt case filed against him by the election watchdog.

[ad_2]