ECP adjourns contempt case hearing until after elections

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has adjourned the hearing of the ECP contempt case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry until after the upcoming general elections.

A four-member panel, headed by member Election Commission Sindh Nisar Durrani, conducted the proceedings of the case and adjourned the hearing until February 20.

PTI counsel Shoaib Shaheen and Fawad Chaudhry’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry attended the proceedings. Shoaib Shaheen requested to delay the hearing until February 8, as the Commission was occupied with election-related matters, the official news agency reported.

The PTI lawyer expressed readiness to conduct intra-party elections once more, supervised by the ECP. He requested the Election Commission to record witness statements after February 15.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan replaced the returning officer/additional deputy commissioner (General) in NA-44 Dera Ismail Khan for exceeding authority and making inappropriate changes to election symbol (of his favourite candidate).

According to an official statement, after reports of unjust favouritism and the misuse of authority by the mentioned returning officer in NA-44 Dera Ismail Khan, it was confirmed that the electoral symbol of a candidate had been allegedly changed without proper authorisation.

Without delay, the ECP replaced the returning officer, appointing Syed Gulfam Abbas Shah, Additional Deputy Commissioner (F&P) of Dera Ismail Khan, as the new returning officer.

Furthermore, the Commission directed the chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to promptly suspend the NA-44 returning officer/additional deputy commissioner (General) and report the matter to the Establishment Division.

Moreover, the Commission constituted a three-member inquiry committee, headed by the provincial election commissioner of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to conduct a thorough investigation into the RO’s actions and submit its report within six-days.

Also, the Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday unveiled the ultimate compilation of 10 minority seats within the National Assembly.

The final list consists of candidates from different parties, with 10 representing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, 5 from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, 2 from Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, 7 from Pakistan Peoples Party, 4 from Jamaat-e-Islami and 3 from Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.