Pakistan: A non-bailable arrest warrant against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has been issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday.

According to the Pakistan-based Dawn, ECP has directed the Islamabad police chief to arrest and present the PTI chairman before it on Tuesday in a contempt case.

On July 11, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a warrant for the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan as he failed to appear before the commission. The arrest warrant was ordered by a four-member ECP bench headed by member Nisar Durrani, as reported by Dawn.

The ECP had initiated contempt proceedings against Imran Khan, along with PTI leader Asad Umar and former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, last year for allegedly using “intemperate” language against the chief election commissioner and the electoral watchdog. The commission had summoned them to either appear in person or through their counsels to explain their position.

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However, instead of complying with the ECP’s directives, the three leaders chose to challenge the notices and contempt proceedings in various high courts. They argued that Section 10 of the Elections Act 2017, which grants the commission the power to punish for contempt, was against the constitution.

Section 10 of the Election Act 2017, titled “Power to punish for contempt,” empowers the election commission to exercise the same power as the high court to punish individuals for contempt of court. The Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 (V of 2003), and any other laws related to contempt of court apply accordingly, as per the report by Dawn.

The PTI leaders had sought declaratory relief from the charges in the high court. However, in January, the Pakistan Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and allowed them to proceed with the contempt proceedings against Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, and Asad Umar, as reported by Dawn. Subsequently, on June 21, the ECP decided to frame charges against the three PTI leaders, scheduling the hearing for July.

Despite being summoned, none of the three PTI leaders appeared before the commission during the hearing on July 11. As a result, the ECP issued arrest warrants for Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry. However, Asad Umar’s lawyer filed a plea for his exemption from the hearing, which was accepted by Pakistan’s electoral body.

As per Dawn, the ECP issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday, stating that he was “required in the contempt of the commission’s proceedings initiated in terms of Section 10 of the Elections Act, 2017.”