Imran given clean chit in ballot secrecy case

PTI chief had submitted apology to the ECP

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday accepted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan's apology in the ballot secrecy case.

Earlier, the court had ordered Imran's counsel, Babar Awan, to submit a reply in the case. A four-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza, heard the case and a reply was submitted by Awan.



On Thursday, chief election commissioner directed Imran’s counsel Awan to immediately reply on Imran having cast his vote in full public glare.

The ECP had earlier taken notice of the July 25 happening. The top poll body then summoned Imran to appear before a four-member bench on this account. “The divider (at the booth) was removed due to rush,” Awan told the court. ” When Imran asked staff for instructions, he was told how to cast his vote.” The bench then directed the Awan to file a reply immediately.

The ECP also cleared Imran, former speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Jamaat-e-Ulema Islamia-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman and former chief minister Pervez Khattak in the case of abusive language lodged against them

All four politicians had tendered apologies to the election body for violating the code of conduct issued by the ECP. Earlier, the four-member bench, headed by the chief election commissioner, had reserved verdicts in two cases of unbecoming language against Sadiq and Khattak.



The ECP, while accepting their replies, also directed all four politicians to hinder their use of such language and warned that repetition will not be forgiven.

Rehman’s counsel also appeared to submit the apology.