ECP urged to drop contempt case against Imran

ISLAMABAD: For the first time in a reconciliatory tone, the main lawyer of PTI Chairman Imran Khan Tuesday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to drop the contempt case against PTI chairman, assuring it that in future Imran would not pass any remarks against the electoral body.

A four-member bench of the commission, headed by Member Sindh Nisar Durrani, heard the contempt of commission cases against Imran, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry.

Though, the ECP had issued production order for Imran, he could not be produced before its bench owing to security reasons. The forum decided to summon the secretary interior in this connection.

The PTI chairman’s lawyer, Shoaib Shaheen, appeared on his behalf and decried the ministry’s inability to ensure the presence of Imran despite the production order. The lawyer made a request to the bench to drop the contempt case against PTI chairman on his assurance that in future, the PTI chairman would not say anything against it.

One of the bench members suggested to him to go to Imran and get in writing from him an apology over his use of intemperate and contemptuous remarks. “Difference of opinion may be everybody’s right but resorting to use of abusive language can’t be allowed,” the ECP member contended.

In response, the lawyer promised to take this proposal to PTI chairman but said the case may be fixed after the general election.

As the ministry explained to the ECP the risks involved in case of production of PTI supremo, his lawyer said that today there had been a real insult meted out to the commision. He noted that despite the fact the electoral body had issued production order, the PTI chairman was not presented before the bench.

On behalf of the Ministry of Interior, AIG Operations Punjab Police submitted a report to the ECP about the PTI chairman and said that there was a threat to the life of PTI chairman, which he himself had declared in the past.

However, the police report suggested a way out that the ECP should go to Adiala Jail and hear the case there.

The ECP bench said that ‘how can you order us to hold a hearing in Adiala. If the Ministry of Home Affairs cannot provide security to a person, then how will the election be held’.

The ECP was also informed that Rawalpindi is a densely populated city and the journey from the city to Islamabad was not free of risks. The ECP bench summoned the interior secretary and adjourned the hearing till November 13.

Meanwhile, the ECP Tuesday decided to extend the deadline from October 25 to October 28 for voter registration, transfer, exclusion and correction of particulars in the electoral rolls/voter list.

According to the ECP’s Media Coordination and Outreach Wing, the ECP had set October 25, 2023 as the deadline for voter registration, transfer, exclusion and correction of particulars in the electoral rolls/voter list. However, an important meeting of the ECP was held Tuesday under the chairmanship of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja. As a consequence of the deliberations, the ECP has extended the deadline for voter registration till October 28, 2023 for the convenience of general public. Therefore, the general public is requested to take advantage of this last opportunity and ensure the registration, transfer, exclusion and accuracy of their vote till the last date.

After the deadline, the electoral rolls will be frozen and the vote will not be registered and transferred.