Level-playing field hearing resumes today

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Staff Reporter

3 years ago

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court resumed hearing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appeal on Monday, seeking contempt proceedings against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for allegedly failing to provide the party with an equal playing field ahead of the February 8 polls.

The case is being heard by a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and consisting of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musrat Hilali.

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

Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, who filed the appeal, is represented in court by PTI lawyer Latif Khosa.

During the previous hearing, the Supreme Court issued letters to the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP), chief secretary, and advocate general, requesting responses to the PTI’s allegations of harassment of their candidates and party leaders.

On December 22, the Supreme Court asked the ECP to address PTI’s concerns about a level playing field in the suit filed by the former ruling party.

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.

Dr Syed Asif Hussain, Special Secretary to the ECP, dismissed the PTI’s claims that it was not given a level playing field for the February 8 elections and asked the Supreme Court to “dismiss the contempt petition with a penalty” on Sunday.

The ECP official stated this in response to the PTI petition, which asked the Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings against the ECP secretary, inspectors general of police (IGPs), chief secretaries of the four provinces, and the interior secretary for failing to comply with the apex court order issued on December 22, 2023.

According to the ECP special secretary, the commission met with the PTI delegation and heard their objections on the order of the Supreme Court. He stated that their issues had been handled and that they had been promised that all parties and candidates would be treated equally and without discrimination.

Hussain stated that the electoral authority had issued complaints-related orders to the Islamabad chief commissioner, all four chief secretaries, provincial election commissioners, and IGPs.

He further stated that the orders were issued to the district and returning officers. According to the special secretary, the PTI filed 33 complaints between December 26, 2023, and all of them were investigated. The IGP, chief secretary, and ROs have submitted reports on the PTI allegations, he said.

Staff Reporter