The country’s top electoral authority has ordered the Islamabad police to arrest PTI chief Imran Khan and produce him before it on Tuesday, July 25 (today).

“This warrant authorises and requires you to arrest the said Mr. Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi and bring him before the Election Commission of Pakistan on 25th day of July, 2023 at 10:00am,” said the non-bailable warrant addressed to Islamabad’s inspector general of police on Monday.

The non-bailable arrest warrants was issued for the former premier after he failed to appear before the ECP in a case pertaining to the contempt of the authority.

The development comes on the day when the Federal Investigation Agency, investigating the cipher, ordered the PTI chief Imran Khan to appear before it on Tuesday.

According to Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Khan would be part of the investigation.

Khan is accused of using “intemperate” language and “contemptuous remarks” against the ECP. The former premier is required in the contempt of the commission’s proceedings initiated in terms of Section 10 (power to punish for contempt) of the Election Act, 2017.

Section 10 titled “Power to punish for contempt” states that the “election commission may exercise the same power as the high court to punish any person for contempt of court and the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 (V of 2003), or any other law pertaining to contempt of court shall have effect accordingly […]”.

Khan failed to appear before the commission despite service of several notices as well as bailable arrest warrants on January 16, 2023 and March 02, 2023.

The warrant was issued under Section 4(2) of the Election Act and other enabling provisions of the Act and Rules.

Khan plans to appear before ECP

The warrant was served at the residence of Imran Khan Monday night through the local SHO.

PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen confirmed to Aaj News that the PTI chairman would appear before the Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday.

It merits here to mention that earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court barred authorities from arresting Khan in the Quetta lawyer murder case till August 9. Since the PMD-led government is expected to quit by dissolving assemblies on August 8, Khan would not be arrested under the current setup at least in the murder case.

Separately, a water bottle was thrown on Khan at the district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday. The attack on Imran Khan came as the PTI chief arrived at the Islamabad District Courts located in G-11.