ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday withdrew its petition seeking contempt proceedings against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over its alleged failure to ensure a level playing field ahead of the upcoming elections.
The PTI approached the Supreme Court on December 26 last year with the plea. The Supreme Court, however, dealt with the motion today after withdrawing it.
During today’s hearing, PTI’s lawyer Latif Khosa told CJP Isa that his party would approach the people’s court in the matter.
“We don’t want to fight this case in your court [Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa]. Thank you very much,” Khosa said.
He said the January 13 Supreme Court verdict — which stripped the former ruling party of its “bat” symbol — forced the party not to contest more than 230 seats.
“Do you want to continue this case or not?” asked CJP Isa. To this Khosa replied that he had been ordered to withdraw the suit.
“We have come to your court to get a level playing field. The verdict, which was announced on January 13 at 11.30 pm, shattered the PTI,” he said, adding that “you took the PTI field”.
Khosa claimed that the ECP can only withdraw the election symbol, however, one of the parties is barred from entering parliament.
“All PTI candidates will now contest as independent candidates, which will spread confusion.
PTI’s lawyer also told the court that the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Nazriyati (PTI-N), with whom they struck a deal, was also “picked up and forced to hold a press conference”.
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To this, CJP Isa said, “If you do not accept the verdict, then [the court] cannot do anything.”
He added that the ECP kept ordering the PTI to conduct intra-party polls, but they still did not take place.
“You are destroying all the institutions of Pakistan,” the CJP told Khosa.
Meanwhile, during the hearing, Justice Musarrat Hilali raised reservations about the ECP’s conduct and its handling of PTI-related matters ahead of the February 8 polls.
“The Election Commission is not fair. It is running for one party,” she remarked while discussing PTI’s request to withdraw its plea on level playing field.
Justice Hilali then pointed out whether the electoral body sees any other parties or not. “Can’t the Electoral Commission see other parties?”
Request
In its plea, the PTI lamented the election body’s failure to implement the apex court’s directions, ordering the poll-conducting body to address PTI’s concerns about the absence of a level playing field.
The suit refers to the apex court’s December 22 judgment in response to PTI’s petition filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution for denial of equal opportunities in the political arena, where it directed the electoral body to meet the party’s representatives and address its relevant concerns .
The ECP met a PTI delegation on December 22 and “ensured a level playing field” after the February 8 polls. Taking cognizance of the party’s apprehensions, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and other officials assured that returning officers (ROs) and police officers who tried to create trouble for the party “will be replaced soon”.
The party alleged that the ECP secretary failed to comply with the apex court’s verdict as PTI candidates continued to be harassed and arrested even after the apex court’s decision.
Seeking legal action against those responsible for violating the injunction, the party prayed the court to ensure that its candidates are allowed to hold rallies and political rallies – as part of a level playing field ahead of the polls scheduled for February 8.
