Contempt case: ECP barred from taking action against PTI leaders

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has retrained the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from taking action against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in a case pertaining to contempt notice, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

According to details, Justice Jawad Hassan heard the petition filed by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench against the electoral watchdog’s contempt of commission notice.

During the hearing, Fawad’s counsel Advocate Faisal Farid argued that the ECP is not a court and therefore as per the constitution is not protected by the “contempt of court provisions”.

Subsequently, the court issued a notice seeking a response from the electoral body on September 7 while restraining it from issuing a final order on the matter.

A day earlier, the Sindh High Court (SHC) barred Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from taking action in a case pertaining to the contempt notice issued to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership.

According to details, the SHC has barred the electoral watchdog from making final decision on contempt notice issued to PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry for allegedly using contemptuous remarks.

On August 19, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a contempt notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Asad Umar, and Fawad Chaudhry.

According to details, the ECP has issued a contempt of court notice to Imran Khan, Asad Umer and Fawad Chaudry and ordered them to report themselves or via an attorney to the ECP to submit their answer to the notice on August 30.