Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued bail-able arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and other top leaders Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry in a contempt case. The warrants were issued by a four-member bench of the ECP headed by Member Nisar Durrani while hearing the contempt case. The ECP bench 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 ECP bench said that warrants were being issued for the appearance of the parties- Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry. The bench directed them to appear before it on January 17. The ECP, in August 2022, had issued a contempt notice to the PTI leaders for insulting the electoral body and its chief (Chief Election Commissioner) Sikandar Sultan Raja during various public meetings, press conferences and several interviews on television channels.

It was said in the notice that they insulted and passed un-parliamentary, intemperate and contemptuous remarks against the ECP on various occasions. It may be recalled that the Supreme Court, earlier this month, had also allowed the ECP to go ahead with contempt proceedings against Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry.