Pakistan's ex-Premier Khan appears before poll body

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan's top election body on Tuesday deferred the indictment of the country's former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a contempt case till Aug. 2.

Khan, who is facing a slew of cases since his ouster from power through a no-trust vote in April 2022, made his first appearance before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), following the issuance of a non-bailable arrest warrant for repeatedly skipping the hearings.

The electoral watchdog had initiated the hearing against Khan, and his two now-break-away aides in October last year for using "intemperate" language against the chief election commissioner and the ECP.

A four-member ECP bench deferred the indictment on the request of Khan's lawyer who wanted some "more time" to gather the case record, local broadcaster Geo News reported.

Later, talking to newsmen outside the Election Commission office, Khan said he would not tender an apology for his remarks against the electoral body.

"Do you think I should apologize? Why should I tender an apology when I did not make any mistake? ” he said while replying to a question.