ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday directed former PTI leader Imran Khan to ensure his participation in the upcoming contempt case hearing on December 17, via a video link.
The directive was issued during a session chaired by a four-member bench, led by the Sindh member.
At the hearing, the Sindh member confirmed that authorities had provided written assurances that arrangements would be made for Khan’s virtual attendance. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa member also mentioned that Khan had been granted bail in another case.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, expressed concerns about the possibility of Khan being arrested in connection with other legal matters, stressing that his presence was vital for recording evidence and hearing witness testimonies.
The Election Commission confirmed that the hearing on December 17 would proceed with the collection of evidence, contingent on Khan’s participation through the video link.
This latest hearing is part of the ongoing legal challenges faced by Imran Khan, which include the contempt of the Election Commission case and other related charges stemming from his time as PTI’s leader.
In a separate development, the ECP had earlier sought a report from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) regarding internet connectivity issues at Adiala Jail, after Khan failed to appear virtually for his previous hearing due to the service disruption. The matter was discussed during the hearing, where PTI’s legal team, including Shoaib Shaheen and Faisal Chaudhry, along with jail authorities, were present.
The counsel for the ECP questioned the jail staff regarding the internet outage, and they confirmed that the service had been disrupted. Chaudhry requested the commission to allow a meeting between Imran Khan and his legal team, but the ECP clarified that such decisions were beyond their scope.
Chaudhry also raised concerns about Khan’s wellbeing, suggesting that the ECP visit the jail to inspect the situation firsthand. The ECP assured the legal team that the issue would be addressed and adjourned the hearing, asking the PTA to submit a report on the matter.
