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Friday, March 29, 2024

The cat and mouse game: ECP issues bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan

News Analysis |

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan following his absence from contempt of court proceedings on Thursday. Khan went to England earlier this month and later to Turkey to spend time with his sons. The apex elections body also ordered the PTI chief to submit surety bonds worth Rs 0.1 million.

In order to re-assert himself and the party, Khan has to arrest the situation tactfully; the cases in the Supreme Court and the ECP will be important in determining Khan’s political future

The contempt of court case against Imran Khan was filed by PTI dissident and one of the founding members Akbar S. Babar. ECP again order Khan to appear on the 25th of September. “Imran Khan respects the election commission and will appear before the ECP whenever it orders,” said Khan counsel, Babar Awan while adding that Khan reached Pakistan a few hours ago.

Read more: Real stakes in NA-120: Maryam Nawaz’s future in peril..?

However, the petitioner’s counsel retorted and said, “Had he respected the institutions, he would have been present here.” The ECP reserved its judgment in the contempt.

As it stands, the PML-N appears all-set to not only win the by-poll in NA-120 but also strengthen its stance that Khan cannot win the ballot

The tiff between Khan and ECP is going on since the past few months. Khan challenged the jurisdiction of the body in hearing the contempt of court case. However, the ECP said in its decision on 10th August that it has the legal right to hear the case. Last month, ECP 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.

Read more: NA 120 Elections: Test Case for Election Commission of Pakistan?

Khan who has time and again said that the Sharif family’s politics thrives by damaging institution; it plays by buying the umpires. He had accused the ECP of being biased in proceedings against him, something which he maintains to-date despite the apology that his counsel tendered to the ECP. Babar Awan had pleaded that the decision regarding the maintainability of the case in the ECP will be challenged.

The petitioner’s counsel retorted and said, “Had he respected the institutions, he would have been present here.” The ECP reserved its judgment in the contempt

It seems that after securing a colossal political victory by ousting Nawaz from power, Khan and his party have not built upon the gain. As it stands, the PML-N appears all-set to not only win the by-poll in NA-120 but also strengthen its stance that Khan cannot win the ballot.Khan, on the other hand, has been under the scanner be it from allegations leveled by Ayesha Gulalai or cases in the ECP and the Supreme Court. This is likely to have an adverse impact on how his party prepares for the elections some 7 months down the line.

Read more: What if Kulsoom Nawaz doesn’t win from NA-120?

In order to re-assert himself and the party, Khan has to arrest the situation tactfully; the cases in the Supreme Court and the ECP will be important in determining Khan’s political future.