Imran will face fresh contempt charges

ISLAMABAD, July 26 (AP): Pakistan's election oversight body said on Tuesday it would indict the country's former Prime Minister Imran Khan next week on charges of publicly insulting its officials last year.

Khan appeared before a special tribunal of t Election Commission of Pakistan along with his lawyers amid tight security in the capital, Islamabad.

After a brief hearing, Shoaib Shaheen, one of Khan's lawyers, said the tribunal decided to charge the former premier with contempt on Aug. 2.

Khan is accused of calling the head of the electoral body, Sikandar Sultan Rajaa, and several of its officials "personal servants" to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at several gatherings. Sharif replaced Khan in April 2022 after he was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Khan had been avoiding appearances before the tribunal for the past several months, saying the electoral body doesn't have the authority to charge him with contempt.

On Monday, the election oversight body ordered Khan's arrest after he repeatedly failed to show up before its tribunal to face contempt charges over his public outbursts against election commission officials.

Khan was not arrested and showed up of his own volition on Tuesday before the tribunal.