Pakistan: Pak Supreme Court allows Election Commission to take criminal action against Imran Khan
Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the country’s Election Commission to initiate criminal proceedings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The News International has given this information.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umer Ata Bandial and Justices Ayesha A. Malik and Athar Minallah heard a petition by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on cases filed by PTI challenging its contempt notices in various high courts. A request was made for transfer and consolidation of The court noted that the High Courts had restrained the ECP from taking disciplinary action against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan and other party members. Court asks ECP’s counsel to analyze objections raised on show cause notices against PTI leaders.
Election Commission counsel Sajeel Swati told the court that the Lahore High Court had restrained the ECP from taking disciplinary action against Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar and other leaders. According to news reports, Justice Ayesha A Malik said that disciplinary action can be taken after the contempt proceedings are over. The judge questioned the counsel for the ECP as to how proceedings were initiated against the respondents in the contempt proceedings.
Responding to the judge’s query, the counsel submitted that Section 10 of the Election Act 2017 allows the ECP to proceed in contempt cases. Sajeel Swati said PTI chief Imran Khan and other party members including Fawad Chaudhary and Asad Umar were not attending the contempt proceedings.
The counsel asked the court to direct the respondents to appear before the ECP and asked the High Courts to decide the matters challenging the contempt notices at the earliest. The apex court then disposed of the matter allowing the ECP to continue its proceedings as per the law and constitution, The News International reported. The Supreme Court of Pakistan also asked the country’s High Courts to decide the pending applications of the petitioners challenging the ECP notices at the earliest.
