ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and counsel for a PTI-backed candidate exchanged hot words on Wednesday, with the latter telling the CEC at one stage to lower his voice.

“I am not here to be insulted,” Faisal Chaudhry said while taking exception to the raised voice of a visibly enraged CEC during the hearing of pleas for change of election tribunal filed by all the three members of the National Assembly from Islamabad.

A four-member bench, headed by CEC, heard the petitions as Aamir Mughal’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry and Anjum Aqeel Khan’s lawyer appeared before the bench.

The rare exchange of words started when PTI candidate’s lawyer sought more time to file reply to the rival’s petition, saying that Aamir Masood Mughal could not be contacted.

Faisal Ch asks Sikandar Raja to lower his voice after latter tells him ‘not to dictate ECP’

Faisal Chaudhry noted it would not make any difference as the PML-N lawmakers would continue to hold their offices.

When the CEC in a loud and clear voice told the PTI lawyer “not to dictate” the Election Commission of Pakistan, Faisal Chaudhry asked him to keep his voice low while talking. He made it clear that he was not there to be insulted and disrespected.

ECP member from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said, “We give the order, no one stopped us, you should submit the answer in the case by 11:30am.”

However, the lawyer maintained that it is not possible to submit the answer till 11:30am. “I have no contact with Aamir Mughal, I cannot file reply without contacting him,” he added.

Ex-minister Fawad Chaudhry, who was present at the hearing, tried to persuade his brother Advocate Faisal to apologise but he declined to do so.

The ECP bench adjourned the case hearing till Oct 17.

Later, while appearing before the bench as counsel for former prime minister Imran Khan in contempt of ECP and CEC, Advocate Faisal Chaudhry asked the commission to implement its decision to “record his evidence online”. Jail authorities, however, claimed it was not possible as the internet was down. They also said the PTCL had been asked to do the needful.

Faisal Chaudhry said he was also ready for a jail trial. “Decide a time and come there. I will also appear,” he said. The hearing was later adjourned till Oct 22.

While talking to media, Advocate Faisal said the government was afraid of the name, personality, message and ideology of Imran Khan and said the internet problem was just an excuse as everybody knows WiFi connections function smoothly.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2024