ECP adjourns hearing of Imran's code of conduct violation case

ISLAMABAD- ECP adjourned the hearing code of conduct violation case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, on Monday. ECP was expected to give the verdict on the case today.

Imran Khan's counsel informed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that PTI has challenged the ECP's code of conduct in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Babar Awan, on the behalf of Imran Khan, presented the arguments before a four-member ECP bench headed by the chief election commissioner (CEC), which resumed hearing of Imran's alleged code of conduct violation case today.

Imran's counsel told the ECP bench that the IHC will take up the case on December 15.

Justice (Retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza, Chief Election Commissioner, expressed annoyance at the argument, saying that they (ECP) cannot be running around dates and adjournments.

However, ECP adjourned the hearing.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was expected to give the verdict on the case against Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, on the alleged code of conduct violation, today.

Imran Khan has been put on trial for violating ECP's conduct in public gatherings at Jehlum and Sahiwal, just before the NA-120 by-poll this year.

Earlier on November 15, as the hearing in the case began, the PTI counsel had asked the ECP to adjourn the hearing against the Imran till the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) hearing on the case on November 29.

PTI Chief's counsel, Shahid Gondal, while presenting his arguments before the ECP's five-member bench said that the case is under hearing at Islamabad High Court, thus ECP should adjourn it. The chief election commissioner Justice (Retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, who also headed the five-member bench,  responded to the counsel's request that if the case will be adjourned, the decision will be delayed.

He asked PTI counsel whether the IHC issued stay order on the hearing of the case and in case it has, then PTI should provide a copy of the judgment to the ECP.

In response, Gondal stated that IHC has stopped ECP from giving a final verdict on the case, however, failed to produced a stay order.

Justice (Retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan said that ECP will resume hearing on 4th December and give the verdict on the same day.