Double whammy for Imran Khan as both ECP and ATC order his arrest

PTI has already decided that Imran will 'voluntarily appear' before ECP on Oct 26

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) directed the Islamabad police on Tuesday to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khanand produce him on October 26.

"You are hereby directed to arrest Imran Khan Niazi and produce him before the Election Commission on 26-10-2017 at 10:00 AM," read the ECP's letter to SSP Islamabad.

On October 12, a five-member bench of the ECP issued the warrants after the PTI chief ignored the polls supervisory body's August 24 show-cause notice relating to a foreign funding case.

Imran earlier ignored half a dozen ECP summons to appear in person.

According to him, it was not within the commission's jurisdiction to conduct contempt proceedings against a member of the parliament.



However, in an expected move on Monday, the party decided that its chief will "voluntarily appear before ECP".

The contempt application was filed on January 23 by a PTI dissident member Akbar S Babar who had turned against Imran in 2011 over alleged corruption and illegal funding in the party.

Imran and Babar are embroiled in a legal battle at the ECP and the IHC for the last three years.

ATC orders Imran, Qadri's arrest

Separately, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad issued non-bailable warrants against Imran and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri in connection with an attack on a police official, SSP Asmatullah Junejo.

The court directed the police to arrest the accused "wherever found and produce them before the court".