ECP contempt case: Imran, Fawad’s indictment defered

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday once again deferred the indictment of ex-premier Imran Khan and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry in a case pertaining to contempt of the electoral body and the chief election commissioner (CEC).

A four-member bench of the ECP arrived at the Adiala Jail early morning, where both Imran and Fawad are incarcerated, to charge sheet the politicians.

The ECP had on Dec 6 decided conduct Imran and Fawad’s jail trial in light of the interior ministry’s denial to produce the former premier before the commission, citing security concerns.

At the previous hearing, the electoral watchdog had announced that it would conduct indictment proceedings against the former premier and the ex-information minister in jail and asked the Ministry of Interior to make necessary arrangements in this regard.

In the latest development today, the ECP bench deferred the indictment and adjourned the hearing till December 27.

Fawad files plea seeking open trial

Separately, Fawad Chaudhry through his counsel Faisal Chaudhry, submitted a plea to the ECP today seeking an open trial for the contempt proceedings.

“The proceedings in central jail Adiala are not open, transparent and are in square violation of law and the Constitution,” the former PTI leader contended.

Fawad said the ECP had a constitutional duty to extend the constitutional rights to the applicant in letter and spirit.

Fawad alleged that “to victimise the political opponents the trials behind the jail walls have become the order of the day”.

“The closed-door trial is highly objectionable, without basking of law and in complete derogation of basic Constitutional rights of the applicant as well as in complete negation of international law fundamental human rights and international treaties,” he added.

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