Pakistan's top election authority formally charged imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his ex-Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in a contempt case. Imran Khan, 71, is the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), while Chaudhry is a senior former member of the party. The charges stem from a 2022 case in which both leaders were accused of using offensive language against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

The proceedings took place at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where both Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry are currently detained on separate charges.

The four-member ECP panel conducted the hearing, during which both leaders were formally indicted for insulting the electoral body and the chief election commissioner. Present in the courtroom, they denied the allegations mentioned in the charge sheet.

Following the indictment, the panel adjourned the contempt case hearing until January 16.

The delay in the case had previously led to its relocation from the ECP building to Adiala Jail due to security concerns, as the police had refused to present Imran Khan for indictment. Khan, who faced a vote of no-confidence and was ousted in April 2022, has been the subject of over 150 cases since his removal from power.