ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has restrained the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from acting on the notices against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for purportedly violating the election code of conduct.
According to the ECP, Khan violated the 2015 order of the commission, according to which the president, prime minister, chief ministers, state ministers, governors, advisers, MNAs and MPAs were not allowed to visit or give any subscriptions or donations in constituencies.
Imran Khan’s counsel Babar Awan said in court on Monday that only those politicians who are public office holders are not allowed to participate in election campaigns under Article 260, however, Imran Khan is not a public office-holder. He said that being a representative of the public Imran Khan should not be barred from taking part in election campaigns.
Justice Amir Farooq, after hearing all the arguments by the PTI lawyers, issued a stay order barring ECP from taking any action against the PTI leader until any further notice.
The case was adjourned until February 12.
Imran has been put on trial for violating the ECP’s conduct in public gatherings at Jehlum and Sahiwal, just before the NA-120 by-poll this year.
Earlier on Nov 15, as the hearing in the case began, the PTI counsel had asked the ECP to adjourn the hearing against the Imran till the IHC hearing on the case on Nov 29.
Earlier on December 4, the ECP had adjourned the hearing of the code of conduct violation case against Imran Khan.
Imran Khan’s counsel had informed the ECP that PTI has challenged the ECP’s code of conduct in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Justice (r) Sardar Muhammad Raza, chief election commissioner, expressed annoyance at the argument, saying that they cannot be running around dates and adjournments.
However, ECP adjourned the hearing.
