ISLAMABAD: In a major breakthrough in Contempt of Court case, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued directives to federal police to arrest and produce Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan before it on September 25.
The directives have come after the PTI chairman failed to appear before the commission despite being summoned time and again.
ECP’s Additional Director General Law has sent the arrest orders to Senior Superintendant Police (SSP) Operations to present Khan before the commission on September 25.
However, the warrant is bailable as it reads the PTI chief may let go on submission of Rs100,000 surety bond along with two guarantors for attending the ECP hearings.
Imran has been charged with contempt of ECP under Section 103-A of the Representation of People Act, 1976 for failing to appear before the commission despite a show cause notice.
On Thursday, the ECP issued bailable arrest warrants against PTI chairman Imran Khan for not showing up before the commission in contempt of court case against him.
The ECP has also ordered Khan to turn up before it in person by September 25 until the latest arrest orders have been issued against him.
During the hearing of contempt proceedings yestersday, PTI chief’s counsel Babar Awan contended that the ECP should halt its proceedings in the case since the party had challenged subject-matter jurisdiction in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), adding that his client reached Pakistan this morning after a brief stay in London and Khan is willing to turn up before the commission.
The five-member ECP bench, headed by chief election commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan, was hearing a petition, filed by a former PTI leader Akbar Babar earlier this year alleging that PTI chief Imran Khan has 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.
 Chairman Imran Khan before it on September 25.){kind=link}