Hearing for change of constituencies: Heated argument between CEC, PTI candidate’s counsel

ISLAMABAD: A rare exchange of hot words was witnessed between Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and the PTI candidate’s counsel, Faisal Chaudhry, during the hearing for change of three local NA constituencies’ pleas to another poll tribunal.

A four-member bench, headed by CEC, heard the petitions while Aamir Mughal’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry and Anjum Aqeel’s lawyer also appeared before the forum. MNAs, belonging to PML-N had filed the petitions for change of poll tribunal. During the hearing, an exchange of hot words occurred when the PTI candidate’s lawyer asked for more time to file a reply to the rival’s petition, seeking a change of election tribunal, as contact could not be made with Aamir Mughal, to which, the CEC retorted, ‘Not try to dictate to us.’ Faisal Chaudhry tersely replied, asking the chief election commissioner to keep his voice down and talk, as they do not come here to be disrespected and that they may decide the petition. Member Election Commission KP said, ‘We give the order, no one stopped us, you should submit the answer in the case by 11:30 am.’ Again, the lawyer maintained that it was not possible to submit the answer till 11:30 am. “I have no contact with Aamir Mughal, I cannot file a reply without contacting him,” he contended. Earlier, PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen appeared before the commission while lawyers from Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Khurram Nawaz and Anjum Aqeel also appeared. The Election Commission bench directed the staff to read the order of the previous hearing while the CEC inquired, ‘What do you want’, to which the lawyer of Anjum Aqeel said that they had submitted the amended petitions, two hearings had been held but there was no response (from the other side). Former minister Fawad Chaudhry, who was present during the hearing, tried to persuade Faisal Chaudhry to apologise but he declined while the chief election commissioner left as well. The Election Commission adjourned the hearing of the case till October 17.

Meanwhile, Faisal Chaudhry appeared before the ECP bench as counsel for PTI supremo Imran Khan in the alleged contempt of the Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner against him.

In the presence of Fawad Chaudhry, he urged the Election Commission to implement its decision to record Imran Khan’s evidence online. The case is pending since August 2022. However, the Adiala Jail authorities contended that it was not possible as the Internet was down, whereas the PTCL had been asked to fix the problem. “Decide a time and come there. I will also appear,” he said. The hearing was adjourned till October 22. Later, in media talk, Faisal Chaudhry said the government was afraid of the name, personality, message and ideology of Imran Khan.

He accused the government of running way and claimed the internet problem was just an excuse as everybody knows wi-fi connection works all the time.