ECP to indict PTI chairman on Aug 2 in contempt case

The Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday deferred the indictment of PTI Chairman Imran Khan until August 2 in a case pertaining to contempt of the electoral physique and the chief election commissioner (CEC).

The ECP issued the directives as a four-member bench headed by member Nisar Durrani heard the case. Throughout right now’s listening to, Imran made his first look earlier than the electoral watchdog because the case was taken up in October final 12 months.

A day earlier, the ECP had ordered Islamabad police to arrest Imran and pre­despatched him earlier than the elect­ion watchdog.

The ECP had initiated contempt proceedings towards the PTI chief, celebration chief Asad Umar and former data minister Chaudhry final 12 months for allegedly utilizing “intemperate” language towards the chief election commissioner and the electoral watchdog.

Nonetheless, as an alternative of showing earlier than the ECP, the three had challenged the ECP notices and contempt proceedings in numerous excessive courts on the grounds that Part 10 of the Elections Act 2017, which is the statutory provision concerning the fee’s energy to punish for contempt, was towards the Structure. The PTI leaders had additionally sought from the excessive courts a declaratory reduction from the costs.

However in January, the Supreme Court docket had allowed the ECP to proceed proceedings towards Imran, Chaudhry and Umar, and on June 21, the ECP had determined to border expenses towards the trio.

Within the July 11 listening to, they didn’t seem earlier than the fee regardless of being summoned, following which the ECP issued arrest warrants for Chau­dhry and Imran. It had, nevertheless, accepted a plea by Umar’s lawyer to permit him an exemption from the listening to.

At this time, Imran appeared earlier than the ECP bench alongside his counsel, Shoaib Shaheen. A member of the ECP bench said that they’d supposed to indict the previous prime minister within the case right now.

Nonetheless, the PTI chief’s counsel requested the electoral watchdog to defer the listening to as he wanted extra time to collect the case document.

In response, the ECP asserted, “It’s your accountability to handle the file and case document.”

Subsequently, the watchdog accepted the counsel’s plea and postponed the indictment till August 2. It additionally directed him to make sure Imran’s presence through the subsequent listening to.