ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued another notice to Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi to appear before the commission in a case relating to his party’s funding and registration.

A five-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza ordered the district election commissioner of Lahore to personally deliver the notice to Mr Rizvi. Neither the TLP chief, who had been taken into protective custody last week, nor his counsel appeared before the commission during the hearing of the case, which was adjourned till Dec 5.

The case against the TLP was initiated after the Supreme Court had earlier this month criticised the ECP for registering a party that had disrupted life in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad last year.

The apex court had also expressed surprise over the registration of the party on an application by an individual who carried the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis and lived in the United Arab Emirates.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2018