Pakistan’s top election body on Tuesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former prime minister Imran Khan in a case of contempt. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry for the same offence.
The ECP had initiated contempt proceedings last year against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Khan and former party leaders Chaudhry and Asad Umar for allegedly using “intemperate” language against the electoral watchdog and its head, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
The arrest warrant order against Khan and Chaudhry was passed by a four-member ECP bench headed by member Nisar Durrani after the two PTI leaders failed to appear before it on Tuesday despite several warnings.
However, Umar was spared after his counsel told the ECP that his client had another case to attend and a medical appointment, requesting an exemption from appearance. The election commission accepted the request and directed the lawyer to submit a formal plea in this regard but it issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Khan and Chaudhry and adjourned the hearing till July 25.