The Pakistan Election Commission has issued a non-bailable arrest order for Imran Khan, the former prime minister’s latest legal challenge.
The latest complaint was filed on Monday, the same day Khan was granted bail in another matter by the Supreme Court. Since his removal as prime minister in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April last year, Khan has been charged with more than 150 offenses, including “terrorism.”
According to the warrant, which was issued in Islamabad, Khan was in contempt of the Election body’s proceedings and had refused to appear before the body despite previous notices and bailable warrants.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party shared an image of the warrant, claiming that it was delivered to Khan’s Lahore home by a member of his legal team.
“The Election Commission of Pakistan’s notice was received at the residence of Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaaf. The notice was received by Rai Muhammad Ali Advocate, a member of the legal team. The Election Commission has requested the Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf to appear on July 25. Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf will appear before the Election Commission tomorrow,” Monday’s post said.
The 70-year-old politician has been accused of using “intemperate language and contemptuous remarks” against the Election Commission.
It has directed the capital’s inspector general of police to arrest Khan and present him before the election body on Tuesday.
Khan told his supporters on YouTube that he was “ready for jail” shortly after the arrest warrant was issued.
As the main opposition leader, Khan has used his large social media following to address his supporters, despite the fact that Pakistan’s media regulating agency has prohibited local television outlets from broadcasting his talks or naming him.
“Media is under their control, and they have turned every television channel into state-run media,” he said of the ban.
Another criminal case against Khan was announced last week when the interior minister said the government would open criminal proceedings against Khan on charges of exposing official secrets in relation to diplomatic correspondence between Washington and Islamabad.
