Fawad Chaudhry apologizes to ECP in contempt case

IHC suspends ex-PTI leader's arrest warrants as ECP seeks written apology

ISLAMABAD:

Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry issued a verbal apology to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday.

A four-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja was presiding over the contempt proceedings.

As the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader apologised to the ECP for his statements, the CEC said that, "You insulted the ECP. Your party chairman used disrespectful language against my wife."

Fawad however stressed that he had "no personal issues with the CEC or the ECP", adding that he was "the party spokesman at the time and all statements were in accordance with the party policy".

He then went on to request the ECP to "let the matter go" as he had apologised verbally.

Upon this, the ECP ordered him to submit a written apology before adjourning the hearing until August 1.

Later, Fawad told reporters outside the ECP that "I have no personal dispute with the institution, everything I said was the party's point of view. I will soon submit a written apology as well."

Read PTI withdraws contempt plea against CEC, others

On the other hand, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the non-bailable arrest warrant against the former minister in the ECP contempt case against him.

Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri issued a three-page order on the matter.

According to the order, Fawad is to submit a certified copy to the ECP.

Notably, the electoral watchdog had issued the arrest warrant against the former PTI leader after he had failed to appear before the commission's contempt proceedings.

Earlier, the ECP had decided to indict Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry for their statements against the watchdog.

The ECP had initiated contempt proceedings against the three for issuing statements against the electoral body and the chief election commissioner.

The commission had previously announced its decision to issue bailable arrest warrants for senior party leaders in January for failing to appear before the commission in contempt proceedings.

Asad Umar has already apologised to the ECP in the contempt case. Umar stated that there was no intention in his statements regarding the ECP that should be seen as an insult.