The caretaker government of Pakistan decided to excuse the absence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan from his scheduled appearance before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday, citing significant security concerns.
The decision came after the Punjab Police raised alarm about potential security risks to Imran Khan. The ECP, in response, questioned the feasibility of the upcoming general elections if the Ministry of Interior couldn’t guarantee adequate security for a single individual. To address these concerns, the ECP summoned the Federal Interior Secretary, Aftab Akbar Durrani, for an explanation.
The ECP’s hearing was related to a contempt case against PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Asad Umar, and Fawad Chaudhry, with Imran’s lawyer, Shoaib Shaheen, as well as Fawad and Asad, present for the proceedings.
Imran’s counsel expressed the ECP’s disappointment over the government’s refusal to present Imran, stating that it amounted to an “insult.”
In defense of the caretaker government’s decision, AIG Operations of Punjab Police, in his report, emphasized the existence of credible threats to Imran Khan’s life. He pointed out that Imran himself had expressed concerns about his safety. The ECP members, however, questioned the validity of these claims.
The senior police official suggested that the ECP consider holding the hearing in Adiala jail, as Rawalpindi was densely populated and posed significant security risks.
In response, the ECP raised serious doubts about the government’s ability to ensure security, not just for Imran Khan but for the upcoming elections as a whole. “How can you order us to hold a hearing in Adiala? If the Ministry of Interior cannot provide security to one person, how will we conduct the elections?” the ECP members questioned.
The ECP adjourned the hearing until November 13 and summoned the interior secretary. It’s worth noting that the ECP had previously issued production orders for PTI chairman Imran Khan for the scheduled hearing, which he did not attend.
