In a final attempt to evade indictment in a contempt case by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday, challenging the proceedings and his trial within the jail premises.
Recently, a four-member bench of the electoral watchdog decided to press charges against the former prime minister, currently detained in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, on December 13 in the contempt case. The ECP also ruled that the contempt case proceedings against PTI would occur within the jail’s confines.
Imran Khan, ousted from office via a vote of no confidence in April last year, argued in his petition that the ECP lacked the jurisdiction to initiate contempt proceedings. He claimed, “ECP initiated contempt proceedings [against me] illegally,” and asserted that a secret trial in jail violated Article 4 of the Constitution.
The ex-PM highlighted that the ECP had scheduled December 13 for his indictment in the contempt case, urging the LHC to annul the ECP’s order concerning his jail trial.
Proceedings against Imran and two other senior party leaders, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry, commenced in August last year. They were accused of using intemperate and contemptuous language against the commission and the chief election commissioner. The commission directed them to appear personally before the bench or through their counsel.
Rather than appearing, they challenged the commission’s jurisdiction in multiple high courts. However, in January, the Supreme Court permitted the commission to initiate proceedings against them. The ECP initially decided to indict them on June 21, but various factors have delayed the process.
