The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan, Asad Umar, and Fawad Chaudhry.
ECP’s four-member panel headed by Nisar Durrani issued the warrants in the contempt case against the electoral body and its chief.
The panel rejected the PTI leaders’ exemption requests and ordered them to appear before the ECP on January 17. The commission reserved its verdict on January 3.
The Supreme Court also permitted contempt proceedings against Imran Khan, Asad Umar Fawad Chauhdry.
During the last Election Commission hearing, PTI lawyer Ali Bukhari said Imran Khan couldn’t travel because of his injuries, Fawad’s mother was ill, and he was in Lahore with her. An ECP member asked about Imran Khan’s medical report, which states he couldn’t fly. PTI’s counsel promised to produce the report.
The commission member stated he hadn’t yet answered the show cause, instructing him to submit an exemption application.
Asad Umar’s lawyer Anwar Mansoor claimed the PTI secretary general was supposed to attend but couldn’t. He argued, “We’ve appealed the show cause notice; all three cases are similar.” Therefore, the hearing will be held together, and I will give a mandatory reply to the show cause on the next date.”
The ECP DG legal said he mentioned in the show-cause notice that it was from the Election Commission.
ECP bench issued warrants for the parties’ presence. Ali Bukhari said their application would be denied if a warrant was obtained.
Anwar Mansoor stated that ECP should make it the final appearance, not the warrant.
Ali Bukhari said a warrant should be issued if they don’t appear in court. The ECP member stated, “We’ll rule,” and the matter was adjourned until January 17.
The ECP issued a contempt notice to PTI leaders in August 2017 for disparaging the commission in public gatherings, news conferences, and interviews.
The notification said they made insulting, intemperate, and contemptuous remarks about the electoral body.
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