ECP reserves verdict on PTI’s objection to its jurisdiction
PTI Chief Imran Khan had earlier challenged the ECP’s jurisdiction to initiate contempt of court proceedings against an individual
July 25, 2017
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition against the institution’s jurisdiction to hear contempt proceedings.
The verdict on the case will be announced on August 10, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan announced on Tuesday.
Only the High Court and Supreme Court can take up proceedings for contempt as per the Constitution, Khan's lawyer Babar Awan reasoned with the five-member bench during the proceedings.
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.
The petitioner, who had also 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, Khan said his counsel had apologised in a personal capacity and he hadn’t apologised to the commission.
