Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Tuesday allowed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to continue contempt proceedings against former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan as well as other party leaders including, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar.
In its detailed verdict, the apex court directed the ECP to decide on the case after hearing the concerns of PTI members as well. The ECP had previously filed a petition in the SC arguing that it had issued contempt notices to PTI chairman as well as other party leaders including Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry. However, those notices were challenged in the high courts.
The ECP argued that the high court orders were illegal and unlawful which had effectively suspended Section 10 of the Elections Act, 2017, by restraining the commission from taking ‘adverse action’ against PTI leaders.
ECP’s contempt notices against PTI members
The ECP, in the months of August and September, had issued contempt notices, in exercise of its powers of contempt, against the PTI chief and several other party members for allegedly using ‘intemperate’ language against the Chief Election Commissioner and ECP and asked PTI members to appear before the commission, in person or through their counsels, and explain their position.
