ECP contempt case: Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar given last chance for submitting reply
29 FIRs had been registered against Imran Khan in the federal capital.
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
Former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar in ECP contempt case have again sought grace period for submitting reply.
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) while hearing the contempt case against Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar warned them that they were being given last chance and if they failed in presenting their arguments on the next date of hearing then they would be charge framed.
Four-member bench of the ECP headed by Member ECP Sindh Nisar Ahmed Durrani and comprising Member ECP Balochistan Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Member ECP Punjab Babar Hassan Bharwana and Member ECP Khyber Pakhtunkwa Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan heard the contempt of Election Commission of Pakistan and Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Sikandar Sultan Raja against Imran Khan and other PTI leaders.
The bench heard case pertaining to the contempt of court notice taken on use of intemperate, un-parliamentary language and contemptuous remarks against the Election Commission of Pakistan by Imran Khan Niazi, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry. Meanwhile the bench heard the case pertaining to the contempt of court notice taken by ECP on the use of intemperate, un-parliamentary language and contemptuous remarks against Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Sikandar Sultan Raja by Imran Khan Niazi and Fawad Chaudhry.
Lawyer Faisal Fareed Chaudhry appeared before the Commission on behalf of Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry. During the hearing interesting sentences exchanged between members of ECP and Faisal Chaudhry.
Faisal Chaudhry while submitting adjournment application adopted the viewpoint that ‘Imran’s security was taken back. Islamabad High Court has issued notice to the federal government which is why decision of Imran appearance in person be reversed.’ To this ECP replied, ‘you had to present arguments today.’
Lawyer Anwar Mansoor Khan argued before the ECP that Asad Umar have to appear before the Anti-Terror court which is why he cannot appear before the commission. Member commission said that parties have been continuously absent from the ECP which was why they wanted to go ahead the proceedings. “If you give importance to the commission then the issues would be sorted out. The courts have stopped us to declare our final decisions,” he further argued.
To this, Lawyer Faisal Chaudhry replied that first information reports (FIRs) are being filed against them on daily basis. Whereas ECP Sindh Member Nisar Ahmed Durrani remarked that they should not give chance that the FIRs could be filed against them and continued they wanted to make the ECP an independent institution.
To this the lawyer replied, “If the commission would have held the elections in timely manner it would have been independent. ECP should issue contempt notice if someone suspends the elections. Ministry of Finance cannot refuse in releasing funds.” To this member KPK replied, “Who told you that elections are not being held.”
ECP while giving last chance to the parties for submitting reply and adjourned the hearing till April 18.
29 FIRs had been registered against Imran Khan in the federal capital.
A record of the cases submitted before the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday revealed that 29 FIRs had been registered against PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the federal capital.
Islamabad High Court’s Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petition filed by Imran Khan seeking details of cases filed against him in Islamabad while Faisal Fareed Chaudhry Advocate represented the former premier in the case.
The documents revealed that 28 cases were registered against the defiant politician at various police stations in the capital city while one case had been filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). They showed that the former premier was booked in 15 cases in single day on May 26 following his party’s long march against the coalition government. The cases registered at the Tarnol police station have been disposed of while Imran Khan’s trial in other cases is pending with courts.
According to the documents, two cases were registered in 2014 while the PTI chief was booked in 26 cases in 2022 and 2023.
During hearing, Faisal Chaudhry expressed shock over registration of several cases against his client. He said, “We have been asked to join investigation in the case but no one is picking up our phones”.
At which, the chief justice directed the Islamabad police’s representative to remain in contact with Faisal Chaudhry and wrapped up the petition.