Imran barred from using inappropriate language

The Election Commission of Pakistan yesterday barred Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan from using unseemly language for his political rivals during election campaigning — a practice that Khan's counsel initially seemed to defend but eventually relented, assuring the election body that his client would abide by its instructions.

On July 12, the eve of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz's return to Pakistan to surrender themselves to the authorities, Khan had said that whoever goes to receive the Sharifs at the airport "must be a donkey".

The ECP had taken notice of Khan's incendiary choice of words and directed him to appear before the commission. Khan did not appear before the ECP but his lawyer and PTI leader Babar Awan was at the hearing on his behalf.

The ECP then forbade Khan from using unseemly language during his campaigning, to which Awan agreed and also submitted a written statement on behalf of the PTI chairman to abide by the ECP's orders.