ECP issues arrest warrants against Imran Khan, asks him to appear before court on Sept 25

Islamabad, Sept 14: Pakistan's Election Commission (ECP) has issued bailable arrest warrants against PTI Chief Imran Khan as he did not show up in a contempt of court case. The ECP, while hearing the contempt of court case against Imran Khan filed by PTI dissident and one of the founding members Akbar S Babar, also ordered the party chief to appear before the court on September 25, said the reports here including in the "Dawn" today. The counsel for Imran Khan, Babar Awan, argued that the PTI Chief was abroad and had returned to the country just an hour ago. “Imran Khan respects the Election Commission and will appear before the ECP whenever it orders,” Awan maintained. On this, the counsel for the petitioner argued that the ECP’s orders have been violated. “Had he [Imran Khan] respected the institutions, he would have been present here,” said the counsel, asking the ECP to continue with the regular proceeding. Following this, the ECP reserved its judgement in the contempt case and issued bailable arrest warrants against the PTI chief, and ordered him to appear before the court on September 25. Last month, ECP had issued a second show-cause notice to Imran Khan after he failed to reply to the earlier notice regarding the contempt of court proceedings against him. Imran Khan had initially challenged maintainability of the contempt petition and raised objections over ECP’s jurisdiction to initiate contempt proceedings against him; the commission, however, declared on August 10 that it had the legal right to hear the contempt case. UNI