“It is Supreme Court, We are not running anyone’s political campaign” CJP tells PTI councel

Published by

Staff Reporter

3 years ago

CJP-led three-member bench instructs PTI counsel to submit response to ECP report and adjourns hearing until Monday.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa stated on Monday that the Supreme Court does not run anyone’s campaign.

The CJP’s statements came during a hearing on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) contempt of court petition against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for allegedly failing to create a level playing field for the party ahead of the February 8 polls.

“We are the Supreme Court, not the government, and we are not running anyone’s campaign,” the CJP stated after PTI counsel Latif Khosa protested that party members were being politically targeted ahead of the February 8 elections.

The case was considered by a three-member bench chaired by Chief Justice Isa and including Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Musrat Hilali.

The proceedings in the case were streamed live on the Supreme Court’s website and YouTube channel.

PTI lawyer Latif Khosa argued on behalf of Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, who filed the appeal in court.

At the last hearing, the Supreme Court issued letters to the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief Secretary, and Advocate General, requesting a response to the PTI’s charges of harassment of its candidates and party leaders.

On December 22, the Supreme Court asked the ECP to address PTI’s concerns about the equal playing field in the former ruling party’s case.

In accordance with the court’s ruling, ECP representatives met with the PTI team and told them that their issues will be addressed in the run-up to the February 8 national election.

However, on December 26, the party filed a new lawsuit seeking contempt of court proceedings against the ECP for allegedly failing to maintain a level playing field.

The ECP had responded to the PTI’s charges of a level playing field the day before.

Staff Reporter