ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry in a contempt of court case.
The warrant was issued by a 4-member bench of the ECP, headed by member Nisar Durrani, who was hearing the case.
In August last year, the ECP had issued contempt notices to PTI leaders for insulting the commission and its chairman during various rallies, press conferences and several interviews.
The notice alleged that he made unparliamentary, indecent and insulting remarks against the electoral body on various occasions and insulted them.
The bench rejected the immunity pleas of the PTI leaders and directed them to appear at the next hearing on January 17 today.
The commission had reserved a decision on their pleas on January 3.
Fawad will challenge the warrant.
Soon after the verdict, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry announced that he would challenge the warrant in the High Court and file a contempt petition against the ECP.
الیکشن کمیشن کا قابل ضمانت وارنٹ جاری کرنے کا فیصلہ ہائیکورٹ کے فیصلے کی توہین ہے، کیس کی تاریخ 17 جنوری گھی جس کو رولز کے خلاف آج مقرر کرکے فیصلہ دیا گیا یہ الیکشن کمیشن کے ان بونے ممبران کا ایک اور جانبدار فیصلہ ہے، اس فیصلے کے خلاف ہائیکورٹ میں توھین عدالت کا مقدمہ کریں گے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 10, 2023
Fawad said that the ECP’s decision to issue an arrest warrant is an insult to the High Court’s decision. He said that the case was to be heard on January 17 and the verdict was delivered today in violation of the rules.
The PTI leader said it was a “biased” decision by the ECP.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had also allowed the election body to file contempt of court proceedings against Khan, Umar and Fawad.
During the last hearing in the Election Commission, lawyer Ali Bukhari appeared on behalf of the PTI leaders and stated that Fawad’s mother is seriously ill and he is with her in the hospital in Lahore. Apart from this, his brother Faisal Chaudhry is the lawyer in this case and both brothers are currently with their mother.
He further said that Imran Khan has not been given permission to travel yet.
The ECP member then inquired about his medical report which claimed that the PTI chief was unfit to travel. PTI’s counsel promised to present the report before the bench.
Also, the commission member said that they have not yet responded to the show cause, they have been directed to submit a request for exemption from attendance.
Asad Umar’s lawyer Anwar Mansoor said that PTI Secretary General was supposed to attend the hearing but could not come to the federal capital. He said that we have applied against the show cause notice, all three cases are of the same nature. The hearing will be held concurrently and I will file a mandatory reply to the show cause on the next date.
On this occasion, ECP DG Law said that he had written in the show cause notice that it had been issued by the Election Commission.
The ECP bench said that warrants are being issued for the appearance of the parties. On which lawyer Ali Bukhari said that if the warrant is issued, his request will not be heard.
Senior advocate Anwar Mansoor argued that instead of a warrant, the ECP should make the final appearance.
Ali Bukhari said that arrest warrants should be issued if they do not appear at the next appearance. The ECP member said we will pass an order on it, after which the case was adjourned till January 17.
