Imran Khan faces a severe blow from Supreme Court over ECP contempt case
Shares
The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to continue contempt case hearing against the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The apex court disposed of the case and directed the ECP to continue contempt case hearing against Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar.
It also asked the ECP not to issue final orders in the case until the judgements of Lahore High Court (LHC) and Sindh High Court (SHC).
“The Lahore and Sindh high courts did not stop the election commission from hearing. The hearing on the petitions pending in the high courts should be completed soon,” the Supreme Court ordered.
A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, conducted the hearing.
*ECP demands clubbing of PTI challenges at one high court*
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday pleaded with the Supreme Court to club all the petitions of the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against it at one high court of the country.
The ECP demanded the clubbing of the petitions during the hearing of the contempt of election commission case against the PTI leaders including its chairman Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry.
The ECP officials told the Supreme Court that the election commission’s notices against the PTI leaders were being heard in Lahore High Court, Sindh High Court and Islamabad High Court.
“All the cases cannot be clubbed in one high court for the convenience of the respondents,” PTI lawyer Anwar Mansoor contended.
“The election commission is a constitutional institution. How can a stay order be given in this case?” Justice Athar Minallah questioned.
“There are stay orders on the action of the election commission. The PTI leaders have submitted their reply,” PTI lawyer replied.
“Can the cases pending in different high courts be clubbed at one high court? Tell us from the court decisions,” Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said.
The election commission requested time until the court verdict was read.
