While one party demands a fair playing field for itself, CJP disputes PTI’s equal playing field

Judge comments made at the hearing of ECP’s appeal against PHC’s decision in favor of PTI in the bat symbol issue.

ISLAMABAD: The PTI was questioned by the Supreme Court on Saturday over its desire for a level playing field, especially in view of concerns expressed by party members regarding the absence of one.

“You ask for a level playing field, you must also give one to your members,” Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar stated.

Speaking to Barrister Zafar, the SC court stated that the ECP acted upon receiving allegations regarding PTI’s intra-party polls rather than acting independently. In addition, he inquired as to the transparency of the party’s surveys and the definition of who was eligible to run for office.

During the hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) appeal against the Peshawar High Court ruling that reinstated the PTI’s electoral symbol, the SC justice made the following remarks.

A three-judge panel led by Chief Justice Isa and made up of Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Musarat Hilali is presiding over the hearing.

Makhdoom Ali Khan is the attorney for ECP, and Barrister Ali Zafar is defending the PTI in the case at the SC.

The commission filed a petition before the supreme court on Thursday, requesting the annulment of PHC’s order, citing dissatisfaction with the ruling. The PTI then petitioned the PHC to hold Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and other officials of the ECP accountable for their failure to abide by the PHC’s ruling.

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Zafar stated in response to Justice Mazhar’s remarks, “The Election Commission has not found any such impropriety. I will provide documentation for each question.

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa had earlier warned that criticizing the ECP on social media or in other media platforms is insufficient. The electoral commission had previously informed the party that it had issued a show-cause notice regarding intra-party polls when the PTI was still in power. However, the party then gave various excuses for why it had not conducted the surveys.

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“When the PTI was in government, the Election Commission paid attention to it,” he said.

He questioned the PTI attorney, “Was the Election Commission an independent constitutional body in your government, which has now become subordinate to someone?”

During the hearing, the chief justice said that since the Election Act hasn’t been challenged, the court won’t discuss it.

The PTI, according to Barrister Zafar, is not contesting the Election Act.