Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Pakistan's election body issues non-bailable arrest warrant against Imran Khan

The case is related to alleged use of ‘intemperate’ language against the electoral watchdog and its head

Pakistan's election body issues non-bailable arrest warrant against Imran Khan

Pakistan's top election body on Tuesday (11) issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former prime minister Imran Khan in a case of contempt.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former information and broadcast minister Fawad Chaudhry for the same offence.

The commission initiated contempt proceedings last year against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Khan and former party leaders Chaudhry and Asad Umar for allegedly using “intemperate” language against the electoral watchdog and its head, the chief election commissioner (CEC).

An arrest warrant order against Khan and Chaudhry was passed by a four-member ECP bench after the two PTI leaders failed to appear before it on Tuesday despite several warnings.

However, Umar was spared after his counsel told the commission his client had another case to attend and a medical appointment, requesting an exemption from appearance.

The commission accepted the request and directed the lawyer to submit a formal plea in this regard, but it issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Khan and Chaudhry and adjourned the hearing till July 25.

The commission asked the PTI leaders to appear in person or through their counsels to explain their position. Instead, they challenged the ECP notices and contempt proceedings in higher courts.

After lengthy proceedings, the Supreme Court in January allowed the ECP to continue proceedings against Khan, Chaudhry and Umar. Subsequently, the ECP decided to frame charges against them.

Khan, 70, has been facing scores of cases in various courts after he was removed from power in April last year.

Chaudhry, once a supporter of Khan, quit the PTI over the May 9 violence carried out by the party supporters.

Violent protests spread across the country on May 9 after Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court.

The government later launched a crackdown against the PTI leaders and workers and arrested thousands of people on charges of attacking civil and military installations.

Khan’s supporters vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s House, the Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad in response to Khan’s arrest.

The mob also stormed the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time.

The police put the death toll in violent clashes at 10 while Khan’s party claimed 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.

More For You

Report reveals Birmingham’s doctors face racism and bullying
Absences have risen at the Queen Elizabeth and Heartlands Hospitals in Birmingham, as well as Good Hope in Sutton and Solihull Hospital

Report reveals Birmingham’s doctors face racism and bullying

Gurdip Thandi

YOUNG doctors in Birmingham hospitals face a ‘shocking’ number of incidents of bullying, racism and sexism from patients and other staff.

The Medical Academy Annual Report was presented to a University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust board meeting, which revealed the data.

Keep ReadingShow less
Former police officer arrested in Rotherham investigation

Investigators believe the earlier offences happened between 1995 and 2002 (Photo for representation: iStock)

Former police officer arrested in Rotherham investigation

A FORMER police officer has been arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into child sexual abuse in Rotherham, authorities revealed on Tuesday (1).

The former constable, who is in his 50s, was taken into custody on Monday (31). He is suspected of raping a teenage girl in the South Yorkshire town in 2004, according to officials.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi Xi

Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping during their meeting in October 2024.

75 years of India-China relations: Modi, Xi call for stronger ties

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping exchanged messages on Tuesday to mark the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic relations.

Modi stated that the development of bilateral ties contributes to global stability and a multipolar world, while Xi called for a "dragon-elephant tango" to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions
Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions

THE Sri Lanka government on Wednesday (2) formed a committee to recommend measures regarding the UK's decision to impose sanctions on three former military commanders who led the campaign that crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

Health minister Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters that foreign minister Vijitha Herath, justice minister Harshana Nanayakkara and deputy minister of defence Aruna Jayasekara would comprise the committee that would consult experts for the purpose.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gujarat-blast-ANI

The blast caused the factory’s concrete roof to collapse, scattering debris and body parts across the area, officials confirmed. (Photo: ANI)

ANI

Death toll rises to 21 in Gujarat firework factory explosion

AN EXPLOSION at an illegal firecracker factory in Gujarat's Deesa town killed 21 people and injured several others on Tuesday, officials said.

The blast caused the factory’s concrete roof to collapse, scattering debris and body parts across the area, officials confirmed.

Keep ReadingShow less