• ECP issued bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry
• It ordered IG Islamabad to implement the directives
• ECP asked Fawad Chaudhry to appear on March 14

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and senior leader Fawad Chaudhry.

The warrants were issued in a case pertaining to passing contemptuous remarks against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and the election commission.

A four-member bench of the ECP issued the order following the non-appearance of the PTI leaders in the case proceedings.

The election commission issued the bailable arrest warrant and directed them to submit surety bonds of Rs50,000 each.

It instructed Inspector General of Police Islamabad to implement the directives. The court ordered Fawad Chaudhry to appear before the commission on March 14.

A document released by the ECP said Imran Khan is “deliberately seeking adjournment on one or other pretext and also reluctant to appear before this Commission which amounts to mockery on law.”

It said “such conduct of respondent could not be tolerable, as his non-appearance before this Commission seems to be intentional”.

Reacting to the development, PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry said the ECP’s orders are in violation of the directives of the Lahore High Court (LHC). He said they will move the LHC for contempt proceedings against the ECP.

The ECP initiated contempt proceedings against the PTI leaders for allegedly using foul language against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and ECP.  It has served several notices to appear in person and explain their point of view.

The PTI leaders later challenged the ECP’s powers to initiate contempt proceedings under Section 10 of the Election Act 2017 in different high courts.