ECP issues production orders for PTI chief

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued production orders for jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in contempt cases fixed for hearing on Oct.24.

Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, while appearing before a four-member bench of the ECP, headed by Member Sindh Nisar Ahmad Durrani, said the PTI chairman was in jail and it was not possible for him to atend the ECP cases unless a production order was issued.

The ECP order said that it is mater of record that the mater was pending adjudication since August 2022 and has to be decided without any further delay.

It said that Imran is in jail but his personal appearance is mandatory before the ECP to proceed further with the mater.

It added that there is no alternative except to issue the production order of Imran so that he appears before the ECP.

Issuing the production order under Section 10 of Elections Act, 2017, read with rule 4 of Elections Rules, 2017, and further read with relevant provision of Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003, the ECP order said Imran will be produced only before the ECP on Oct.24 and, ater culmination of proceedings, he will be returned into jail forthwith.

The ECP bench asked its office to convey the directions to the Superintendent of Adyala Jail, Rawalpindi, to make all necessary arrangements for producing Imrna before the ECP.

The Punjab and Islamabad police chief have been asked to ensure foolproof security arrangements for production of Imran when the case comes up for framing of the charge against him.

The charge is to be framed against the former prime minister in two separate cases — one for contempt of the Commission and the other for contempt of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

Meanwhile, the ECP bench also issued bailable warrants against former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in the contempt of ECP and CEC cases.