The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Saturday issued a show-cause notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan. The Commission issued notice to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the PTI chairman. However, the chairman was given time till August 23 for submitting reply to the notice.
Rejecting the arguments of Imran Khan's counsel Babar Awan that only high court and Supreme Court could take up proceedings for contempt, the ECP said that it has jurisdiction to hear contempt proceedings. The Commission in its decision said that under People's Representative Act and Article 204 of the Constitution, the ECP has powers to take action on contempt of court.
The ECP had issued the contempt notice to Khan on January 24 over his remarks about the Commission. The proceedings are being started against Imran Khan under Article 103A of the Constitution of Pakistan, Article 204 of People's Representative Act and Contempt of Court Ordinance. The decision was issued by a five-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza (Retd).
Earlier, Imran Khan had challenged the ECP's powers to initiate contempt of court proceedings against him; thereafter, the Commission had reserved its decision on July 25.