Imran Khan gets some relief as ECP postpones indictment in contempt case until August 2

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday deferred the indictment of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a case pertaining to contempt of the electoral body. According to the Pakistani news outlet, Dawn, the election watchdog deferred Khan’s indictment till August 2. As per the report, the directive was issued by a four-member bench which was headed by Nisar Durrani. On Monday, the watchdog issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Khan following which the cricketer-turned-politician appeared before the ECP office in Islamabad. 

On Tuesday, the PTI chief made his first appearance before the electoral watchdog since the case was taken up in October last year, Dawn reported. He appeared before the bench alongside counsel, Shoaib Shaheen. The bench stated that they intended to indict Khan today itself. However, Shaheen requested the watchdog to defer the hearing as Khan needed more time to gather case records. “It is your responsibility to manage the file and case record,” the bench responded. The watchdog then accepted the counsel's plea and deferred the indictment until August 2. 

چئیرمین عمران خان الیکشن کمیشن آفس پہنچ گے
pic.twitter.com/WnwLG3UvJG

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 25, 2023

Khan’s hide-and-seek with ECP 

Last year, the ECP filed a case against Khan and PTI leader Asad Umar and former information minister Fawad Ahmed Chaudhry for allegedly using “immoderate” language against the chief election commissioner and the electoral watchdog. However, instead of appearing at the body’s office, Khan and his allies challenged the ECP notices in various high courts. The defendant argued that Section 10 of the Election Act 2017, which gives the body the power to punish, is “unconstitutional”. 

However, in January this year, Pakistan’s Supreme Court allowed Khan to continue proceedings against him, Chaudhry and Umar and on June 21. The ECP framed charges against them. During the July 11 hearing, the three leaders did not abide by the summon following which the ECP issued an arrest warrant against Khan and Chaudhury, giving some relief to Umar. The warrant created major turmoil and the proceedings in the case remained at a standstill till today.  

Imran remains adamant

Following the hearing, journalists asked if the PTI chief will apologise to the body, but Khan scoffed at the question. “Do you think I should apologise? Why should I tender an apology when I did not make any mistake?” Khan told the local reporters. 

Earlier today, Khan released a video message in which he claimed his innocence. "Finally I want to say this to my country that some people are trying to get me out of their path. This warrants…contempt of the Election Commission…you will never hear such things in the world. We heard that there are cases of contempt of court but never heard a case made on contempt of election Commission and warrants being issued for this,” Khan stated. “They are trying to put me in jail, I am standing here and even ready to go to jail, but InshaAllah, I will prove by staying in my country that they made false and bogus cases against me,” he added. 

میں انشااللہ اپنے ملک میں رہ کر ہی ثابت کروں گا کہ انہوں نے ہر کیس جھوٹا بنایا اور سارا انکا ارادہ یہ ہے کہ کسی نہ کسی طرح عمران خان راستے سے ہٹ جائے۔ چئیرمین تحریک انصاف عمران خان #سائفر_ایک_حقیقت pic.twitter.com/Z9PqXqwNeR

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 25, 2023