IHC suspends ECP's arrest warrants against Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended on Wednesday the bailable arrest warrants issued against Imran Khan by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). 

Hearing the case, Justice Aamer Farooq, who headed a three-member larger bench, directed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief to reply to the ECP's show-cause notice. 

During the hearing, the PTI chairman's counsel, Babar Awan, said it seems that only one party is on trial in the ECP. Awan assured the court that the PTI chairman would reply to the ECP's show-cause notice with regards to contempt proceedings against him. 

The IHC then adjourned the hearing September 26. 

On Thursday, ECP issued bailable warrants of arrest against Imran for failing to appear before it in the contempt of court case against him.

The ECP ordered Imran to submit a surety bond of Rs100,000 until September 25 and nominate two persons who would ensure payment of the amount and be held responsible otherwise.

Imran was also ordered to appear on that day in the commission in person.

Earlier, during the hearing of contempt proceedings, PTI chief's counsel Babar Awan argued before the ECP that proceedings against his client should be postponed until the matter is decided by the high court.

The five-member ECP bench, headed by chief election commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan, had summoned Imran in person on Thursday but he failed to do so.

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 it of being biased in the foreign funding case following which his counsel tendered an apology with the commission.

The PTI chief had challenged the ECP’s decision to hear a contempt case against him.

The PTI had petitioned the IHC seeking an end to the contempt of court hearing against Imran.