ISLAMABAD, (DNA) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reserved verdict in offensive language and violation of ballot secrecy cases against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan after an apology was submitted by him.

A four-member commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) retired Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza conducted hearing of the case. Babar Awan appeared before ECP and told that he representing Khan in offensive language and secrecy of ballot code violation case.

“A single reply seeking apology has been submitted in both the cases. Imran Khan did not violated the electoral code of conduct intentionally,” said Awan.

“How a single reply can be submitted in two cases? The response is not acceptable in secrecy of ballot code violation case. Submit a written explanation for it,” remarked the CEC.

Following the orders, Awan submitted a separate written reply saying that Khan did not made his vote public on purpose as the voting screen fell due to the huge crowd. It went on to say that Imran Khan did not willingly showed his vote in the camera.

The reply has requested ECP to issue the success notification of Imran Khan for NA-53 constituency of Islamabad.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa member objected that the reply does not bear the signatures of Khan. “I have the affidavit and Imran Khan has sought an apology. According to law, one cannot take the photograph of the vote. The media cameras took the picture and not Khan,” argued Awan.