PTI challenges ECP decision to hear contempt case against Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) challenged on Tuesday the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision to hear a contempt case against PTI chief Imran Khan. 

The PTI petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking an end to the contempt of court hearing against Imran by the ECP with regards to the 'foreign funding' case under way against PTI in the ECP. 

PTI counsel Anwar Mansoor informed the IHC bench headed by Justice Aamer Farooq that the foreign funding case is already being heard in the Supreme Court; thus the ECP should cease proceedings in the case till the apex court decides on the matter.  

Justice Farooq observed how the IHC can interfere in a case under way in the apex court. 

The court then issued notices to the petitioner of the foreign funding case in the ECP, PTI's 'disgruntled' member Akbar Babar, and the ECP, to reply by September 7. 

On August 10, the ECP ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear contempt proceedings and issued a notice to the PTI chairman.

The ECP had earlier reserved its verdict on the PTI's petition against the institution’s jurisdiction to hear contempt cases.

A five-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, issued a show-cause notice to the PTI chief, directing him to reply to a contempt petition against him by August 23.

At the last hearing on July 25, Khan's counsel Babar Awan had argued that only the high court and Supreme Court can take up proceedings for contempt as per the Constitution.

He said a legal framework needs to be put in place in order for the ECP to take up contempt proceedings, as the 1976 Contempt of Court ceases to exist.

The ECP had issued the contempt notice to Khan on January 24 over his “scandalous remarks” about the commission.

Akbar Babar, the petitioner who had filed the foreign funding case against the PTI leadership had informed the ECP that the PTI chief had accused the ECP of being biased in the foreign funding case following which his counsel tendered an apology with the commission.

The petitioner said in a TV interview that Khan said his counsel had apologised in a personal capacity and he had not apologised to the commission.