The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to submit a response to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) report in a case related to the level-playing field ahead of the upcoming polls.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali, heard the case.
“We are the Supreme Court, not the government, we are not running anyone’s campaign,” the CJP said after PTI counsel Latif Khosa complained that the party members were being subjected to political victimisation ahead of February 8 elections.
The CJP added Section 144 and Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) will be applicable to everyone, not any single political party.
The proceedings of the case were broadcast live on SC’s website and YouTube channel.
PTI lawyer Latif Khosa came presented arguments on behalf of Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, who filed the appeal in the court.
At the last hearing, the SC issued notices to the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP), chief secretary, and advocate general, seeking their response on the PTI’s allegations regarding alleged harassment of their candidates and party leaders.
On December 22, the top court directed the ECP to address PTI’s concern regarding the level-playing field on the former ruling party’s petition.
In line with the court’s order, the ECP representatives met the PTI delegation and assured them of addressing its grievances in the lead up to the February 8 national vote.
However, the party filed another petition on December 26, seeking contempt of court proceedings against the ECP over the electoral body’s alleged failure to ensure a level-playing field.
ECP Special Secretary Dr Syed Asif Hussain on Sunday rejected the PTI’s allegations that it was not being provided a level playing field for the February 8 elections and asked the Supreme Court to “dismiss the contempt petition with a penalty”.
The ECP official said this in reply to the PTI petition, demanding the SC to begin contempt of court proceedings against the ECP secretary, inspectors general of police (IGPs), chief secretaries of the four provinces and interior secretary over non-compliance of the apex court order passed on December 22, 2023.
