ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) adjourned the hearing of the contempt case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, former minister Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar until October 24.
A four-member bench, led by member Sindh Nisar Durrani, conducted the hearings on the case for making contemptuous remarks against the election commission as well as the chief election commissioner (CEC) by the PTI chief and other accused.
During the hearing, Imran Khan was represented by his lawyer Shoaib Shaheen. Asad Umar appeared in person in the absence of his lawyer while Fawad Chaudhry did not appear due to illness.
Shoaib Shaheen pointed out that the PTI chairman is currently in custody, underscoring the need to issue a production order to guarantee his presence at the hearing. Shoaib Shaheen informed the commission that the PTI chief is not being presented in any court hearings due to security concerns, the official news agency reported.
Nisar Durrani remarked that there seemed to be a contradiction: “While you’re expressing concerns about security, you’re also requesting production orders for the PTI chief.”
Durrani then asked the advocate in which jail the PTI chairman was in. “We will write to the IGP for the provision of security to the former prime minister on his way to the ECP,” the member said.
The bench directed Advocate Shoaib Shaheen to provide a response on behalf of his client regarding the show-cause notice in the contempt case. Subsequently, the ECP will proceed to issue the production order for the client’s (PTI chief’s) appearance.
Member Balochistan Shah Mohammad Jatoi remarked that Imran Khan will be indicted in the next hearing.
