Imran Khan decides to 'voluntarily' appear before ECP
- By Web Desk -
- Oct 16, 2017
ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Monday decided to ‘voluntarily’ appear before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on October 26, ARY News reported.
The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Imran Khan after his confidants suggested him to make appearance before the election commission.
It is pertinent here to mention that the ECP issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the PTI chief over his ‘perpetual absence’ during the contempt proceedings against him.
Read More: ECP issues Imran Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants in contempt case
The five-member ECP, bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan, was hearing a petition filed by the PTI dissident – Akbar S. Babar – when it issued ‘non-bailable warrants’ for Khan.
The top electoral body ordered the police to arrest Imran and present him before the commission on October 26.
On the other hand, the PTI has reached the consensus that Imran would ‘voluntarily’ appear before the court.
The PTI has also lashed out at ECP and demanded to implement election laws and make elections transparent.
They also agreed upon continuation of pursuit of ECP’s jurisdiction case.
Read More: ECP extends date of Imran contempt case verdict till Oct 12
Khan’s counsel Babar Awan has termed the arrest warrants for the party chief as ‘illegal’and ‘unconstitutional’.
“The commission has surprisingly issued a warrant in the same case where a previous one was suspended by a full-bench of Islamabad High Court [IHC],” he remarked.
The party would challenge the directives of the electoral regulatory body in the IHC, Awan added.
Calling the court proceedings against Imran as sponsored action, he said that some political quarters are engaged to distract democratic reforms’ process and such cases against his client were being filed under a malicious design.