The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has once again deferred the indictment of ex-premier Imran Khan and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry in a case related to contempt of the electoral body and the chief election commissioner (CEC). A four-member bench of the ECP arrived at Adiala Jail to charge sheet the politicians. Imran, 71, has been in jail since August 5, when he was arrested after a conviction in the Toshakhana case. The ECP decided to conduct Imran and Fawad's jail trial due to the interior ministry's denial to produce the former premier before the commission, citing security concerns.

Last year, the electoral body had initiated contempt proceedings against the PTI chief, former party leader Asad Umar and Fawad for allegedly using intemperate language against the chief election commissioner and the electoral watchdog. However, instead of appearing before the ECP, the three challenged the notices and contempt proceedings in various high courts arguing that the statutory provision regarding the commission's power to punish for contempt was against the Constitution. Fawad was arrested from Islamabad on November 4 in a corruption case and has been in custody ever since.

At the previous hearing, the electoral watchdog had announced that it would conduct indictment proceedings against the former premier and the ex-information minister in jail and asked the Ministry of Interior to make necessary arrangements. In the latest development on Tuesday, the ECP bench deferred the indictment and adjourned the hearing till December 27. Imran's lawyer Shoaib Shaheen said Imran's petition challenging the jail trial was pending before the Lahore High Court and that the case could be heard transparently only when the media was present. Fawad, through his counsel Faisal Chaudhry, submitted a plea to the ECP on Tuesday seeking an open trial for the contempt proceedings, alleging that the trials behind the jail walls have become the order of the day.