ECP adjourns contempt case hearing against PTI Chairman, Asad Umar & Fawad Chaudhry due to the non-appearance of the accused

ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (SABAH): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) adjourned the contempt case on Monday against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan and former federal ministers Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry due to the non-appearance of the accused.

Four-member bench of the ECP headed by Member ECP Sindh Nisar Ahmed Durrani and comprising Member ECP Balochistan Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Member ECP Punjab Babar Hassan Bharwana and Member ECP Khyber Pakhtunkwa Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan heard the case against Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry. The accused were to be indicted on Monday on charges of insulting the electoral body and its chief commissioner.

The PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry are both currently incarcerated in separate cases.

During proceedings, Nisar Ahmed Durrani remarked that if there are prevailing security concerns then the hearing can be held in prison.

To this, the interior secretary replied that the tribunal could do so if it wished to. We have no objections to this, maintained the secretary.

A member of the commission then asked whether the law would permit this. To which, the interior secretary replied that the law ministry would have to be consulted on the matter.

Fawad’s lawyer apprised the court that his client is on judicial remand in Adiala Jail.

The member said the ECP was a constitutional body with its own rules, constitution and act. He said no other law was applicable on the election commission. Later, the commission adjourned hearing of the case till December 6.

The ECP had initiated contempt proceedings against Imran, Asad, and Fawad for issuing statements against the electoral body and the chief election commissioner.

The Punjab Police had earlier, on behalf of the interior ministry apprised the tribunal that Imran Khan could not be produced before the commission due to threats to his life.

Asad and Fawad have both apologized to the chief election commissioner and the ECP. Separately, both Asad and Fawad have renounced their membership of the party.