ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), through its counsel, on Wednesday requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to adjourn the hearing of a case pertaining to violation of election code of conduct against Imran Khan until the Islamabad High Court’s hearing in the case on November 29.
Imran is accused of violating ECP’s code of conduct during the public gatherings in Jhelum and Sahiwal prior to the by-elections there. Counsel for PTI’s chairman Shahid Gondal, while presenting his arguments before the ECP’s five-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, said that the case was adjudicated at the Islamabad High Court, so the ECP should adjourn its hearing. The chief election commissioner said that in case of an adjournment, the decision on the case would be delayed. “Has the IHC issued a stay order on the hearing and in case it has, the PTI should provide a copy of the judgment,” the election commissioner said.
Gondal said that the IHC had stopped the ECP from giving its final decision on the case. The chief election commissioner said that as the IHC had not issued any stay order, the ECP would hear the case on December 4 and would announce its judgment on the same date.
Published in Daily Times, November 16th 2017.
