The country’s top electoral authority has suspended the non-bailable arrest warrants issued for PTI chief Imran Khan for the time being in the contempt case, as it allowed him to get the documents from the law wing concerned.

“As the respondent is in attendance, therefore, non-bailable warrants of arrest against the respondent are suspended for the time being,” said the order.

But the Election Commission of Pakistan ordered that the respondent shall appear in person on the date fixed. On July 25, the ECP deferred the indictment of Khan till August 2 in the contempt case.

The ECP would resume the hearing next week at 10am for framing of charges.

The order was issued by a four-member bench headed by member Nisar Durrani.

Khan had appeared before the ECP bench alongside his counsel, Shoaib Shaheen. The lawyer informed the bench that he has been engaged a few days ago and does not possess the record of the case. He sought time to get documents and to prepare the case for the assistance of the commission.

The commission had granted permission to the respondent to get documents.

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 the service of several notices as well as bailable arrest warrants on January 16, 2023, and March 02, 2023.