The Lahore High Court (LHC) has set January 29 as the date for hearing the petition filed by Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former prime minister, challenging the “jail trial” in a contempt case brought by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The registrar’s office of the LHC fixed the hearing and included the federal government, ECP, and other relevant parties as complainants.
On January 22, the LHC had previously rejected Imran Khan’s plea to halt the “jail trial” in the contempt case initiated by the Election Commission. The indictment in the contempt case against Imran Khan and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry took place on January 3, with the hearing conducted within the premises of Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is currently held.
During the proceedings, the accused were formally charged through a read-aloud indictment, and the subsequent hearing was adjourned until January 16. The Election Commission had issued notices back in August 2022, alleging that Imran Khan and others had used “intemperate” language against Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja and the electoral watchdog. The political leaders consistently criticized the commission, branding it as a “subsidiary of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.”
The legal developments underscore the ongoing legal challenges faced by Imran Khan and PTI officials in the contempt case, reflecting the complex interplay between the political landscape and judicial processes in Pakistan.
