ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders of retroactive action if they do not appear in another hearing of the contempt of court case.
The Election Commission is hearing the case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Secretary General Asad Umar and Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry.
The election body had also issued bailable arrest warrants for the three leaders, which were suspended by the Lahore High Court on Monday.
At the beginning of Tuesday’s hearing, the member of ECP Balochistan asked that where are Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry?
On this, Advocate Faisal Chaudhry’s assistant told the ECP panel that the PTI leader and his lawyer could not attend the hearing because they had to meet former President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Latif Afridi in Peshawar. Had to attend the funeral.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa member said that the High Court had suspended his arrest warrant but did not exempt him from participating in the proceedings, adding that he had not even filed an exemption application.
Member Sindh Nisar Durrani said that if the PTI leaders ignore the next hearing, the ECP will take retrospective action and announce the decision.
The ECP panel adjourned the hearing till January 24.
In August last year, the ECP had issued contempt notices to PTI leaders for insulting the commission and its chairman during public meetings, press conferences and interviews.
Lahore High Court has suspended arrest warrant of ECP.
On Monday, the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court suspended the bailable arrest warrants of the PTI leaders issued by the ECP.
Lahore High Court Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan suspended the warrant issued by the four-member bench of the ECP last week.
The court, despite suspending the warrant, directed the ECP to continue the contempt of court proceedings against the PTI leaders.
Last week, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry announced shortly after the ECP’s verdict that he would challenge the warrant in the High Court and file a contempt petition against the ECP.
Court warned PTI against targeting judiciary
During the hearing, the court remarked that ‘PTI seeks relief from the judiciary but targets them in the media’.
“Targeting the judiciary in the media is contempt of court, if Fawad Chaudhry again targets the courts in the media, contempt of court proceedings will be initiated.”
Justice Khan remarked that Fawad, while giving an interview to an international channel, blamed the judiciary for corruption. He also asked the PTI leader’s counsel that the court is now giving him relief but he should ask his client to refrain from making insulting remarks against the courts.
Justice Khan remarked that enough is enough, the court will no longer show restraint.
