An arrest warrant was issued for ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan
The “Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)” issued a directive on July 24, instructing the Islamabad police to arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan and present him before the commission on July 25. This action is related to a case involving contempt of the top electoral body.
The ECP expressed frustration with Imran Khan’s repeated absence from the hearings and ordered the Islamabad Inspector General to arrest the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for failing to appear in the contempt case.
Last year, the ECP initiated contempt proceedings against Imran Khan, along with former PTI leaders Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry, accusing them of using “intemperate” language against the chief election commissioner and the electoral watchdog. In the previous hearing on July 11, a four-member ECP bench, led by member Nisar Durrani, issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khan and Chaudhry while sparing Umar. The hearing was rescheduled for July 25, with orders for all three to appear.
In its recent orders, the ECP stated that Mr. Khan was required to attend the contempt proceedings under Section 10 of the Elections Act, 2017. However, despite receiving notices and bailable warrants issued on January 16 and March 2, he failed to appear before the commission.
Earlier, the ECP had requested PTI leaders to appear in person or through their counsels to explain their position, but they challenged the notices and contempt proceedings in higher courts. In January, the Supreme Court allowed the ECP to continue proceedings against the three leaders, leading to the framing of charges against them.
Imran Khan is currently facing numerous cases in various courts following his removal from power in April of the previous year. Fawad Chaudhry, who was once a staunch supporter of Khan, distanced himself from him after the May 9 violence.
On July 20, Fawad Chaudhry tendered an apology to the ECP in the contempt case filed against him by the electoral watchdog.
Notably, on the same day of the ECP’s announcement, the Supreme Court prohibited authorities from arresting Khan until August 9 in connection with a case related to the murder of senior lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar in Quetta.
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