The Lahore High Court (LHC) Monday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Secretary General Asad Umar and Senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry. The former prime minister and federal ministers had moved LHC Rawalpindi Bench against the warrants issued by the ECP earlier in the day in a contempt case against the trio. Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan heard the PTI leaders’ plea against the arrest warrants. The court suspended arrest warrants and directed the ECP to continue with its contempt proceedings against the PTI leaders.

The ECP issued bailable arrest warrants for PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other party leaders in a contempt case last week. Former prime minister Imran Khan, PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar had sought immunity from attendance in the case which was turned by ECP’s four-member bench. Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had allowed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to continue its proceedings against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, and his party leaders Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry in contempt case filed against them over controversial remarks against the electoral body.

Last year, the top electoral body initiated contempt proceedings against the PTI leaders for allegedly using foul language against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and ECP. It has served several notices on them, asking them to appear in person and explain their point of view. However, the PTI leaders did not appear before the ECP and later challenged its powers to initiate contempt proceedings under Section 10 of the Election Act 2017 in different high courts The ECP in its six petitions had urged the top court to transfer all its contempt cases against PTI leaders from different high courts to a single one. The commission maintained that it had issued contempt notices to PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan as well as other party leaders including Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry in the months of August and September.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP