ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan along with party leaders Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday also continuing the hearing of the contempt of court case.
During the hearing, PTI’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry told the court that the leader could not appear before the commission due to illness.
The lawyer also said that the Supreme Court (SC) is yet to give a written decision on the ECP’s appeal and argued that it would be appropriate to wait for the apex court’s direction on the matter.
It may be noted that the Supreme Court had earlier issued notices to the PTI leaders on the ECP’s plea seeking consolidation and transfer of all the six contempt challenges pending in different High Courts. Later, the court allowed the election watchdog to continue contempt of court proceedings against the leaders.
Umar’s lawyer Anwar Mansoor, presenting arguments today, said that it would be appropriate to try all the cases together.
ECP member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) said the watchdog’s intentions “should not be doubted”.
“We are not angry with anyone, if the commission makes a mistake, you will get relief from the High Court,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sindh, a member of the commission, said that “insults were made against the ECP as an institution, not against a specific individual”.
On this, Faisal Chaudhry expressed full confidence in the ability of the commission to deliver justice.
“Don’t make us the villains here,” the KP member added.
Adjourning the hearing till January 3, the commission directed Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry to appear at the next hearing.
