ISLAMABAD, SEPT 14 (DNA) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ordered on Thursday bail-able arrest warrants against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for failing to appear before it in the contempt of court case.

The ECP directed Imran to submit a surety bond of Rs100,000 until September 25 and appear on that day before the commission in person.

Earlier, during the hearing of contempt proceedings, Babar Awan, the PTI chief’s counsel,  argued before the ECP that proceedings against his client should be postponed until the matter is decided by the high court.

The five-member ECP bench, headed by chief election commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Raza Khan, had summoned Imran in person on Thursday but he failed to appear before the bench.

Presenting his arguments before the ECP bench, Awan contended that the ECP should halt its proceedings in the case till the PTI’s challenge to ECP’s jurisdiction is heard by a larger bench of the Islamabad High Court, which is to be heard later in the day.