ECP issues bailable arrest warrants against Imran, Fawad

ECP orders both leaders to appear on March 14 in case pertaining to 'contemptuous remarks' against CEC

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and party leader Chaudhry Fawad Hussain in a case pertaining to "contemptuous remarks" against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

According to Express News, the commission also directed both PTI leaders to appear before it on March 14.

The ECP, in its order, said that Imran Khan was "intentionally" not appearing before the commission and is mocking the law, which is intolerable behaviour.

Also read: PTI submits response in ECP contempt case

It stated that the former prime minister neither appeared himself at the last hearing nor did any of his lawyers on his behalf, adding that in such a situation there was no other option but to issue a warrant against him. The ECP also ordered the PTI chief to deposit a bond of Rs50,000 as a guarantee.

The commission also ordered bailable warrants for Fawad Chaudhry. In the decision, the ECP ordered the Inspector General of Islamabad Police to comply with the bailable arrest warrants.

Previously, the ECP had initiated contempt proceedings against Imran as well as party leader Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry for issuing statements against the electoral body and the chief election commissioner.

Asad Umar has already tendered an apology to the ECP in the contempt case. Umar said that there was no such thing  in his statements regarding the ECP that should be seen as an insult. “If the ECP still feels that it was insulted, I am sorry. I leave myself at its mercy.”