Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, and other leaders in a contempt case.
A four-member bench of the electoral body headed by member Nisar Durrani, issued the warrents for the former premier, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry as a plea seeking exemption from attendance was rejected by the ECP.
At the previous hearing, the ECP had given the PTI leaders a last chance to appear before the commission, warning that their absence before the commission at the next hearing on January 17 would result in the issuance of arrest warrants.
During the hearing today, the ECP rejected the pleas of PTI leaders seeking an exemption from appearing before the commission and issued arrest warrants for them against surety bonds worth Rs50,000 each.
The bench, subsequently, adjourned the hearing till Jan 17.
In August last year, the ECP had issued a contempt notice to the PTI leaders for insulting the commission and its chief during various public meetings, press conferences and several interviews.
