ECP takes notice of Imran Khan’s speech, may start another contempt trial

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday took notice of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s speech which he delivered yesterday.
According to sources, the ECP took notice of the PTI chief’s speech which he made yesterday and asked the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to provide it the script of his speech today.
Sources said that the commission could take action against Imran Khan under Article 204.
In his Sunday’s presser, the PTI chief criticized the chief election commissioner.
Commenting on the matter of his disqualification at the Elections Commission of Pakistan, the PTI leader said that the ECP will earn more “humiliation if it disqualifies” him.
“The Election Commission has no power to disqualify me. Even if they do so, will the nation vote for anyone else?” Imran Khan asked.
The ECP has already started contempt proceedings against Imran Khan and other party leaders over the alleged use of intemperate and contemptuous remarks against the commission and its chief.
However, the PTI moved to the court against the ECP’s jurisdiction regarding starting contempt proceedings and issuing show-cause notices in this regard.
The Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) had on Sept 21 provided relief to Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry as it suspended the contempt notices issued to them by the ECP.
However, the Supreme Court in its hearing on Tuesday allowed the ECP to continue the contempt proceedings against former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other party leaders.
Earlier this week, PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry said the ECP and CEC wanted to disqualify Imran Khan. “But the people will not accept the decisions taken behind closed doors. There can be no stability without new elections,” he said.
The CEC, on the other hand, said that the ECP neither has any favourites nor is it against anyone. “Action was taken against those who tried to create chaos and from workers to party chiefs for violating the code of conduct,” he added.
The PTI chief, on October 18, had filed a reference against the CEC in the SJC for his removal deeming him unfit to hold the constitutional post. Khan and other PTI leaders have repeatedly demanded that the chief election commissioner resigns from his post and the ECP be reconstituted before the next general elections.
The party had earlier filed a reference in July, but withdrew in August soon after to add more evidence to it against the commissioner.