ECP contempt case hearing adjourned till Feb 20

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday could not record witnesses’ statements in the contempt of Election Commission and chief election commissioner (CEC) case and the hearing was adjourned till February 20.

A four-member commission bench, headed by Member Sindh Nisar Durrani heard the cases and advocate Shoaib Shaheen appeared on behalf of PTI founder Imran Khan, whereas the other alleged contemner Fawad Chaudhry’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry was also present.

“Statements of witnesses were to be recorded today,” reminded Nisar Durrani, when PTI founder lawyer contended that he had applied for adjournment of the hearing, owing to electioneering. The lawyer, who is the party’s independent candidate from one of National Assembly seats of Islamabad, urged the bench to adjourn the hearing of case till after elections.

The ECP member retorted that the case has been adjourned for more than a year when the lawyer urged that statements of witnesses should be recorded after February 15. Then the hearing was adjourned till February 20.

Regarding the contempt case against Fawad Chaudhry, his lawyer Faisal Chaudhry requested for adjournment of the hearing. The ECP member from KP pointed out that no reply had been submitted by Fawad Chaudhry on show-cause notice till date.

The lawyer still insisted for more time to submit reply to the show-cause notice and was given time till February 21 to do the needful.