The Election Commission of Pakistan will frame charges against former Prime Minister Imran Khan next week after he appeared before the poll watchdog on Tuesday to face a contempt case.
A four-member bench of the commission asked Khan to appear on Aug. 2 for framing charges against him, said Naeem Haider Panjutha, Khan’s spokesman on legal affairs. However, Panjutha wasn’t sure if the opposition leader will attend the next hearing.
Khan decided to attend the proceeding after the Election Commission issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him on Monday for making contemptuous public remarks against the commission and its head.
The arrest warrant against Khan stood dismissed after his court appearance and there is no chance of arrest now, Panjutha said in a separate Twitter post.
Khan who was ousted from power in April last year has seen legal challenges mount and faces more than 170 cases ranging from corruption to murder.
Khan’s legal team has challenged the Election Commission’s authority to hold contempt proceedings in the high court, Panjutha said.
(Updates with detail throughout.)
