ECP reserves verdict in contempt case against PTI leaders, to be announced on June 20

ISLAMABAD, June 5 (SABAH): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday reserved the decision on the contempt of election commission case against the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and it would be announced on June 20.

A four-member bench, headed by ECP Sindh Member Nisar Ahmed Durrani, heard the ECP’s contempt case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry.

Asad Umar’s lawyer Anwar Mansoor Khan raised objections to the powers of the ECP. While presenting his arguments, he said that the ECP secretary and the DG Law did not have the authority to issue notices.

“The ECP is not a court, so it does not constitute a contempt. If there is a contempt case in a subordinate court, it is referred to a higher court,” he added.

To this, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Member ECP Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan inquired whether Clauses 6 and 10 of the Election Act should be declared null and void.

The ECP member asked whether Fawad Chaudhry has come, to which Faisal Chaudhry said that he was supposed to appear but could not come due to illness.

Faisal Chaudhry submitted the pleas of the PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry for exemption from personal appearance and reserved the decision on the PTI’s objections. The hearing of the case was adjourned till June 20 next.