ECP concludes contempt case against Imran Khan following written apology

• PTI chief says never meant to defame electoral body

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday concluded contempt proceedings against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after he personally appeared before the electoral body and submitted a written apology.

The PTI chief finally decided to show up before the commission on Thursday, nearly two weeks after the ECP had issued his non-bailable arrest warrants, in connection with the contempt of court case.

PTI counsel Babar Awan, Secretary General Jahangir Tareen, Naeemul Haque and Fawad Chaudhry accompanied the party chief to the ECP.

PTI dissident and one of the founding members, Akbar S Babar, who is also the petitioner in the case also arrived at the ECP.

There are two contempt cases underway against the PTI chief on petitioner Akbar S Babar’s pleas.

During the proceedings, Babar Awan presented arguments before the five-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (r) Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza.

Awan requested the bench to conclude the contempt of court case against Imran Khan as he “respects the law, and all its institutions” and it is evident as he has appeared before the bench out of respect.

He said that the party wants to take back the review request submitted before the ECP on January 9.

Meanwhile, the ECP directed the PTI chairman to submit written apology over the remarks accusing the ECP of bias in the foreign funding case.

The petitioner’s counsel, Ahmed Hasan, then read the contents of Imran’s contemptuous remarks.

Awan argued that the PTI chief had apologised twice over his remarks, but the election commissioner directed him to submit a written apology signed by Khan.

Khan and his lawyer then wrote the apology before submitting it to the ECP.

Later, the ECP ruled that it accepts Imran’s apology over the contemptuous remarks.

However, the bench remarked it does not accept the same apology for Imran’s remarks against the ECP in Karachi during a press talk on September 20.

It observed that Imran will be charged with contempt if the same apology is submitted for the Karachi contempt notice as well.

‘CRITICISM PART OF DEMOCRACY’

Addressing the press conference after appearing before the ECP, the PTI chief said that his criticism of the electoral body was meant to make the institution stronger, and at no time did he intend to defame or degrade it.

Reiterating that his intention was never to attack any institution, he maintained that the purpose of his criticism was to make the ECP a credible institution.

“We want to see a strong ECP,” he said, adding, “We held a 126-day dharna [protest] to ensure free and transparent elections. Criticism is part of democracy, and the statements were a reaction to my arrest warrants.”

The process of formation of ECP should be open and transparent, he added, emphasising that the consultation should not be limited only to the government and opposition.

It is in the interest of the country that the prestige of the ECP is recognised in the country, concluded the PTI chief.

On October 12, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan for failing to show up for the contempt of court proceeding against him.

The five-member ECP bench had directed the authorities concerned to arrest Imran Khan and present him before the ECP on October 26.

However, the warrants were suspended by the Islamabad High Court(IHC) earlier this week as the PTI’s counsel argued before the court that Khan would “voluntarily” appear before the ECP.

Earlier on September 14, the ECP had issued bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan following his failure to show up for the contempt of court proceedings. The warrants were later suspended by the IHC on the PTI’s petition.

In August, the ECP had issued a second show-cause notice to Imran Khan after he failed to reply to the earlier notice regarding the contempt of court proceedings against him.

Imran Khan had initially challenged the maintainability of the contempt petition and raised objections over ECP’s jurisdiction to initiate contempt proceedings against him; the commission, however, declared on August 10 that it had the legal right to hear the contempt case.