Interior Ministry says producing Imran Khan before ECP 'risky'

• Police also informed Election Commission about risks.
• "They explained it'll be risky to ensure PTI chief's presence."
• Imran Khan is currently imprisoned at Adiala jail.

ISLAMABAD: On the eve of the hearing of contempt cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, the Interior Ministry informed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that producing the jailed politician before the electoral authority's bench is a "security risk", The News reported Tuesday citing a source.

According to the source at the ECP, both the Interior Ministry and the Islamabad Capital Territory Police informed them regarding the potential "risks" of presenting the PTI chief before the bench today (October 24).

"They have informed the commission and explained that it will be risky to ensure the PTI chairman’s presence for the hearing of the ECP bench,” the ECP official said.

On Thursday, the electoral watchdog issued production orders for the deposed prime minister — who was ousted from office after a no-confidence motion against him in April 2022 — in the contempt cases against him, as it had to issue a charge sheet.

A four-member bench, headed by ECP Member Sindh Nisar Ahmad Durrani, had released two separate but almost identical orders for Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry, a former senior member of the PTI. 

Both are to be indicted today (October 24). However, in Chaudhary's case, the commission also issued bailable warrants of arrest and directed the relevant IGP to serve them.

The PTI chief is currently incarcerated at Adiala jail and being tried under the Official Secrets Act. A special court is conducting the trial within the jail premises due to security threats.

IPP symbol

Meanwhile, the Election Commission reserved its verdict on a fresh application filed by the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, seeking allotment of ‘eagle’ as the electoral symbol. 

A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the case, while the petitioner’s lawyer requested the desired election symbol.

The chief election commissioner asked about their symbol preferences other than ‘eagle’, however, the lawyer insisted that they might be allotted the same. 

Later, the Election Commission reserved its decision. 

The newly-formed Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party had applied for the symbol a few days back, after the Election Commission had cancelled the ‘registration’ of the All Pakistan Muslim League and ruled that its election symbol ‘Eagle’ was now available.

In another development, the ECP has ordered the immediate release of the staff officer to prime minister, Waqar Ali and that he be appointed deputy commissioner Sheikhupura. 

In this context, the CEC said that written orders should be issued accordingly while winding up the case.

A three-member bench, which was headed by CEC Raja, heard the case of the transfer of Deputy Commissioner Sheikhupura. Secretary Establishment appeared before the ECP and informed the bench that the Punjab government had been asked to appoint Deputy Commissioner Sheikhupura and the orders were not withdrawn.

CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja contended that both governments are involved in this issue and remarked, “we have great respect for the prime minister who has the right to have a staff”. 

The CEC said the ECP had no objection if the government posted him in Kasur instead of Sheikhupura. Later it asked the ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan to issue orders in writing.