Court suspends ECP’s warrant against Fawad

IHC directs former minister to appear before electoral watchdog on July 20

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) non-bailable arrest warrants against former minister Fawad Chaudhry in contempt proceedings.

IHC Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the former minister’s plea, directing Fawad to appear before the ECP on July 20.

During the hearing, Fawad’s lawyer Advocate Faisal Chaudhry appeared before the court and stated that the contempt proceedings against the former minister were under way in the ECP.

In response, the court said that the chief justice (CJ) has decided that the proceedings of the election commission will continue. The CJ has stopped the commission from issuing a final decision.

Commenting on the electoral watchdog’s proceedings, the IHC justice said “It is a court, and you have been served notices”.

The court inquired why Fawad was not appearing there personally, adding that: “You have also violated the high court orders”.

Advocate Faisal said that we appeared before the IHC on the same day.

In a moment of wittiness, the justice quipped, "Was the commission in Karachi while the former minister couldn't attend due to the distance? Perhaps you should have taken a detour from the high court."

“You have violated the court's orders by not appearing before the commission,” IHC told the lawyer.

Advocate Faisal said that “we are ready to appear before the commission”.

Justice Tariq warned Fawad of consequences if he failed to appear before the commission in the future.

It should be noted that the ECP had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Fawad Chaudhry in his absence.