Election Commission of Pakistan postponed contempt proceedings against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan after he appeared in person on Tuesday.
The ECP postponed the case till August 2 for Imran Khan’s indictment, and told him to ensure his presence.
A four-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan had paused proceedings as it waited for him appear in person.
The bench includes the four ECP members including Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Babar Hassan Bharwana and Ikramullah Khan. The case has nominated Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar for contempt of ECP.
Non-bailable warrants had been issued for Imran Khan by the ECP to ensure his presence today. However, the court postponed proceedings till August 2 after Imran’s lawyer argued that he did not have all the necessary documents.
The warrants were also nullified as Imran made an appearance without an arrest.
However, the bench adjourned proceedings for Fawad and Asad till August 2. However, it said it would resume proceedings when Imran Khan appeared.
“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.
