ISLAMABAD: After leaving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Imran Khan, politician Fawad Chaudhry, now associated with the Isthakam Pakistan Party (IPP), has apologized to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the contempt of court case filed against him by the election watchdog.
Fawad, in August last year, was booked for allegedly using indecent language to target ECP and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The National Election Authority issued notices to Chaudhry and his former party colleagues, including PTI Chairman Khan and Asad Umar, for using abusive language against the Chief Election Commissioner and the Commission.
A four-member commission headed by CEC Raja heard the contempt of court case against the former federal minister and others on Thursday.
Following the direction of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Chaudhry appeared before the ECP along with his lawyer Faisal Chaudhry, during which he apologized to the commission and requested withdrawal of the show-cause notice issued to him.
The former PTI leader said that what he said was related to the party’s narrative while he was its spokesperson.
“It was the party’s stand that I stated. I respect institutions including the ECP,” the politician said.
The CEC then asked Fawad whether he would kill anyone on the orders of the party chief. Raja also lamented the bad language used against him, his family and the commission during public gatherings.
The former federal minister was then asked to submit a written apology to the ECP, which he would consider later. The hearing was adjourned till August 1.
Earlier this week, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had suspended the non-bailable arrest warrant issued against Fawad by the electoral body for his non-appearance at a hearing, on Fawad’s request.
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, in his order, directed him to appear before the ECP on July 20, or face contempt of court proceedings against him. So Fawad presented himself before the commission.
