The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will give its verdict in the contempt of court case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on July 10, it was learnt here.
A four-member bench of ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza heard the case. In the hearing, Imran again failed to submit his fresh reply in the case while his counsel Shahid Gondal kept seeking more time from the election commission for the purpose.
He told the commission that PTI’s newly appointed counsel Babar Awan will file Imran Khan’s fresh reply in the case.
On this note, the CEC expressed his annoyance over non-submission of PTI’s reply, saying that the reply is no more required. He said that the ECP would announce its decision on the next hearing on July 10.
According to online agencies, Imran has changed his counsel rather than filing his reply in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in contempt of court case. ECP had taken up the hearing on Tuesday of the contempt of court case filed against Imran Khan. Instead of filing a reply, the PTI chief changed his counsel.
The annoyed CEC remarked, “We had ordered PTI Chief to file reply on next hearing.”
Member election commission Justice Retired Irshad Qaisar remarked, “Where is the power of attorney with respect to Babar Awan?”
In reply PTI Counsel said that Babar Awan will personally submit his power of attorney during next hearing.
Chief election commissioner while expressing his concern over the issue remarked, “You have not prepared a reply so far.”
The PTI counsel excused that because Imran Khan is in Chitral, hence, more time must be given for filing a reply.
The CEC was visibly irked when he said that, “Imran Khan sometimes is in Chitral and sometimes in Nathia Gali”.
Regarding this the PTI Counsel said Imran Khan is a ‘national’ leader. Chief Election Commissioner replied by questioning that ‘wasn’t ECP a national institution?’
Later while speaking outside the Election Commission, PML-N leader Danyal Aziz said that efforts are underway to push the ruling party to the wall.
He said that the PTI chairman leveled bogus allegations against the ruling party inside and outside the institutions. He said no one filed any application against Imran Khan but the ECP had taken notice itself.
He said that Imran was running from accountability in front of the ECP. He said that he cannot avoid it and will have to answer about foreign funding to his party.
Furthermore, talking to the media, MNA Talal Chaudhry said that the PML-N has offered unmatched sacrifices for an independent judiciary. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif never deviated from his principals despite enduring jail sentences and exile.
He vowed that PML-N would face conspirators as it had successfully nullified such conspiracies in the past. He said that Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has been left with only one week, to finalize its report, adding that JIT should investigate rather than defame people.
He termed the investigative report submitted by former interior minister Rehman Malik as a pack of lies. “The 70-year real money trail has already been submitted by Hussain Nawaz the son of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif,” he added
He also urged institutions to stop the puppets from playing their games.
He was of the view that in Pakistan democratically elected governments were ousted by hatching conspiracies. He urged the SC to take notice of conspiracies. He said JIT has become controversial due to its own deeds. He claimed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was a billionaire even before entering the field of politics.
