ECP reserves verdict in contempt case against PTI leaders

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday reserved the decision on the contempt of election commission case against the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the PTI’s objections to the chief election commissioner’s (CEC) powers regarding elections, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A four-member bench, headed by ECP Sindh Member Nisar Durrani, heard the case.

The contempt of election commission case was heard against PTI chairman, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry.

Asad Umar’s lawyer Anwar Mansoor raised objections to the powers of the ECP.

While presenting his arguments, he said that the ECP secretary and the DG Law did not have the authority to issue notices.

“The ECP is not a court, so it does not constitute a contempt. If there is a contempt case in a subordinate court, it is referred to a higher court,” he added.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Member Ikramullah inquired whether Clauses 6 and 10 of the Election Act should be declared null and void.

In his reply, Anwar Mansoor said: “This is my personal position, but the high court had instructed to appear before the ECP. According to the decision, the ECP is not a court but an administrative body. The ECP has no authority to hear contempt of court cases.”

The DG Law election commission argued that the Supreme Court itself said that the ECP had certain powers of the Supreme Court and also had the power to issue contempt notices.

“The notice of contempt was the decision of the commission. The secretary only issued the notice,” he added.

At this, Anwar Mansoor asked the DG Law election commission to read the notice to know who sent the notice.

Fawad Chaudhry’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry also adopted the arguments of Anwar Mansoor and declared the notice issued by the ECP secretary exceeding the authority.

The ECP member asked whether Fawad Chaudhry has come, to which Faisal Chaudhry said that he was supposed to appear but could not come due to illness.

Faisal Chaudhry submitted the pleas of the PTI chairman and Fawad Chaudhry for exemption from personal appearance and reserved the decision on the PTI’s objections.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till June 20 next.

 

Reporter Usman Khan