ECP postpones Imran Khan’s indictment in contempt case till August 2

[ad_1]

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday adjourned the indictment of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to August 2 in a case related to contempt of the election body and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Pakistan-based Dawn reported. The ECP issued the directions when a four-member bench headed by member Nisar Durrani heard the matter on Tuesday, according to Dawn.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan appeared for the ECP since the case was taken up in October 2022.

The decision comes after the ECP on Monday ordered the Islamabad police to arrest Imran Khan and present him before the election watchdog. During the hearing on Tuesday, Imran appeared before the ECP bench along with his lawyer, Shoaib Shaheen. A member of the ECP bench said they intended to indict PTI chairman in the case today. However, Imran Khan’s lawyer requested the ECP to adjourn the hearing as he demanded more time to compile the case record, according to the report.

Responding to the statement, the ECP said, “It is your responsibility to manage the archive and case record,” Dawn reported. Subsequently, the ECP accepted Imran Khan’s lawyer request and adjourned the charge sheet till August 2. The election watchdog directed him to ensure Imran Khan’s presence during the next hearing.”

After the hearing, Imran Khan was asked by reporters if he would apologize to the commission, he replied: “Do you think I should apologise? Why should I give an apology when I did nothing wrong?” Asked by a journalist if he would “take more U-turns”, Imran Khan replied, “he would keep taking U-turns,” according to a Dawn report.

The ECP initiated contempt proceedings against PTI chairman Imran Khan, party leader Asad Umar and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry last year for allegedly using inappropriate language against the chief election commissioner and the election watchdog. But instead of appearing before the ECP, the three leaders challenged the election watchdog’s notices and contempt proceedings in various high courts.

They challenged the ECP’s notifications on the grounds that Section 10 of the Elections Act 2017, the statutory provision on the commissions’ power to punish for contempt, was unconstitutional. The PTI leaders had also requested the courts to grant them a declaratory relief from the charges.

In January, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had allowed the ECP to proceed with the trial of Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar. On June 21, the ECP had decided to press charges against the three leaders, Dawn reported. In the July 11 hearing, the three leaders did not appear before the ECP despite being summoned.

After they failed to appear, the ECP issued arrest warrants for Fawad Chaudhry and Imran Khan. However, the election watchdog had accepted a plea from Umar’s lawyer to allow him a waiver from the hearing.

[ad_2]