In a case involving alleged disrespect of the electoral body, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for PTI leader Imran Khan. The former prime minister must appear before the ECP on Tuesday, July 25th, the ECP ordered the Islamabad police to do.
ECP issues arrest warrants for PTI chairman: The warrant, written to the inspector general of police in Islamabad, authorized and required them to arrest Mr. Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi and bring him before the Election Commission of Pakistan on the 25th day of July, 2023, at 10:00 am.
The ECP issued the arrest warrant after the PTI leader skipped a hearing in a case involving authority-related contempt.
The ECP charged Khan with making “contemptuous remarks” and using “intemperate” language towards them.
According to Election Act of 2017 Section 10 (authority to punish for contempt), the previous premier is necessary in the contempt of the commission’s procedures.
Imran Khan has now received a non-bailable warrant from the ECP twice this month in connection with a case involving alleged contempt of the electoral body and the chief election commissioner (CEC).
A four-person ECP bench, presided over by Nisar Durrani, passed the order earlier this month. Imran and Fawad were both summoned to the electoral body during the hearing but failed to show up.
“ECP Issues Non-Bailable Arrest Warrants for Imran and Former Minister over Contempt Orders”
The ECP issued non-bailable arrest warrants to Imran and the former minister of information, and they postponed the hearing to July 25.
For allegedly using disrespectful language against the chief election commissioner and the ECP, the ECP issued contempt orders against them last year.
The commission required them to appear in person or through their counsels.
However, they had argued that Section 10 of the Elections Act of 2017 violated the Constitution and had challenged the ECP letters and contempt proceedings in several high courts.
According to the Election Act of 2017, “election commission may exercise the same power as the high court to punish any person for contempt of court and the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 (V of 2003), or any other law pertaining to contempt of court, shall have effect accordingly.”