Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the objections raised by Imran Khan’s counsel over ECP jurisdiction to hear the contempt of court case against the PTI chief.
A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan heard the contempt of court case against PTI chief Imran Khan.
The ECP will announce its verdict on the objections on August 10, 2017.
Imran counsel Baber Awan said that ECP had power to take action on discrepancies and rigging in electoral process. He added that the contempt of court law of 1976 was no more operative and had seized to exist.
Only High courts and Supreme court have the powers to take action on contempt of court. Counsel for the petitioner Ahmed Hassan said that the Contempt of Court Law 2003 was clear. He urged the Commssion to issue show cause notice to Imran Khan.
After hearing the counsels of the petitioners and respondents the ECP reserved its order on the objections raised by Imran on ECP’s jurisdiction.
During last hearing, counsel of petitioner Akbar S Babar, Ahmed Hassan had argued before the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Imran Khan on his persistent defying ECP’s orders.
He argued that ECP enjoyed powers of High Court and had the authority to start contempt of court proceedings against Imran Khan. Imran Khan’s persistent defying is tantamount to obstruction of justice. Imran must be punished and fined, he had pleaded.
It is worth mentioning here that a petition was filed by a PTI former leader Akbar Babar earlier this year alleged that Imran Khan had committed contempt of court in his comments on the party funds, claiming that he had not apologized to the ECP over his comments instead his counsel did so in his personal capacity.
