The Islamabad High Court on Monday barred the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from initiating proceedings against Prime Minister Imran Khan over violation of its code of conduct by addressing public rallies ahead of the local body polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Justice Aamer Farooq conducted hearing of the case in which Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan assisted the court.

The IHC judge directed the electoral body to issue notices to members of the Parliament in case the ECP observed violation of its code of conduct. But it would not disqualify or impose fine on them till the next hearing of the case.

The premier and the federal minister had submitted the plea against the commission's notices issued to them for violating the code of conduct by addressing public gatherings ahead of the second phase of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa local body elections on March 31.

The counsel for ECP informed the court that the prime minister and the federal ministers had violated code of conduct of KP's Local Government Act 2013.

Justice Farooq directed the electoral body neither to initiate final proceedings against the premier and federal minister Asad Umar nor impose fine on any lawmaker related to the case till the next hearing. However, the ECP could issue notices to them, he added.

Barrister Ali Zafar, who is representing the prime minister in the case, said the ECP had issued the code of conduct on its own, allowing the parliamentarians to address public gatherings and barring the prime minister and federal ministers to do so.

The IHC judge asked for more arguments related to the legal points on the case in the next hearing of the case. The high court adjourned the case till April 6.