No option but to indict Imran after Nov 10: ECP

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday said it would be left with no other option but to indict PTI Chairman Imran Khan as well as his aides Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry in a contempt case after November 10.

A four-member bench, headed by ECP Sindh Member Nisar Ahmed Durrani, conducted a hearing on the contempt case filed against the former premier and other leaders of his party.

Barrister Anwar Mansoor Khan appeared before the bench to respresent the PTI leaders.

Barrister Anwar raised questions about the legality of the notices.

He argued that they were issued by the ECP secretary instead of the commission itself.

“The [show-cause] notices are illegal until this matter is sorted out,” he added.

He further pointed out that the notices carried the signature of  the director general of law.

To this, Durrani noted that the notices were that of the ECP despite its secretary issuing them.

He added that the notices were issued by the commission and its secretary had merely “conveyed” them to the respondents.

The lawyer asked the ECP to hold a hearing after October 31 as the Lahore High Court was entertaining a similar case on that date.

He added that Umar had been receiving threats since last night and there was security for him.

At this, the bench said that it would have no other choice but to issue a charge sheet against his clients after November 10.

The lawyer pointed out that the commission was not a court.

Durrani replied that the commission had never claimed to be a court.

“We are aware of our jurisdiction,” he added.

The bench later adjourned the proceedings.

In August this year, the ECP issued contempt notices to Imran, Fawad and Umar for levelling allegations at the electoral body and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.

The ECP spokesperson said in a statement that notices were issued to the PTI chief for using “insulting and unparliamentary remarks” against the electoral body in various speeches.

The commission said it issued the notices after reviewing speeches of the PTI leaders which was provided by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on the electoral body’s request.

The PTI chief has time and again accused the ECP and it chief of being biased and demanded CEC Raja to step down.

He also accused the ECP chief of siding with the ruling PML-N against the PTI.