ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday rejected the bailable arrest warrants issued against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Aamer Farooq, however, directed Imran Khan to reply to the ECP’s show-cause notice.
During the hearing, the PTI chairman’s counsel Babar Awan said it seems that only one party is on trial in the ECP. He assured the court that his client would reply to the ECP’s show-cause notice with regards to contempt proceedings against him.
The IHC then adjourned the hearing till Sept 26.
The ECP had last week issued bailable arrest warrants for Imran after he failed to appear before it in the contempt of court case. The Commission also ordered the PTI chief to submit a surety bond of Rs 100,000 till Sept 25 and to ensure his presence on that day.
Earlier, during the hearing of contempt proceedings, Advocate Babar Awan argued before the ECP that proceedings against his client should be postponed until the matter is decided by the high court.
The five-judge ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Raza Khan had summoned Imran Khan in person on Thursday but he failed to do so.
The ECP had issued the contempt notice to Khan on January 24 over his scandalous remarks about the Commission.
Akbar Babar, the petitioner who had filed the foreign funding case against the PTI leadership, had informed the ECP that the PTI chief had accused it of being biased in the foreign funding case following which his counsel tendered an apology with the commission.
The PTI chief had challenged the ECP’s decision to hear a contempt case against him.
The PTI had petitioned the IHC seeking an end to the contempt of court hearing against Imran Khan.
This speaks volumes about the dignity of our Superior Courts. We are proud people now.
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