SC dismisses petition against PTI leadership, ECP contempt proceedings will continue

High Courts should be ordered to decide petitions against ECP contempt, Chief Justice Bandial

Picture source - supremecourt.gov.pk

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday allowed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to continue proceedings against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and party leaders Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Athar Minallah heard the case. ECP had approached the Supreme Court against Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar.

During the hearing, ECP said that the notices against PTI leaders were pending in the Lahore High Court, Sindh High Court and Islamabad High Court.

PIT lawyer Anwar Mansoor objected and said that all the cases could not be clubbed only for the convenience of the parties.

Chief Justice questioned whether the cases pending in different High Courts could be combined or not.

The Supreme Court said that the High Courts should decide on the PTI’s petitions against the contempt of the Election Commission soon. The ECP counsel said that the Lahore High Court had stopped taking disciplinary action against Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar.

The lawyer said that Section 10 of the Election Act allowed the commission to take contempt proceedings and Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry were not appearing.

Justice Athar Minallah said that apparently a constitutional institution has been disabled by the order of the High Court.

Justice Ayesha Malik said that the order of the Supreme Court will be premature while the Order of the Lahore High Court was not stopping ECP from taking contempt proceedings.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the High Courts should be ordered to decide the petitions against the Contempt of Election Commission soon.

In August this year, ECP issued a contempt notice to Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry for insulting the ECP during various public meetings, press conferences and several interviews.