Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Wednesday said the courts were “standing behind every political party for elections” as the Supreme Court heard the PTI’s contempt plea against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
A three-member bench, headed by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali, presided over the hearing. The proceedings were broadcast live on the apex court’s website.
The PTI’s contempt plea alleged that the electoral body violated SC directives for a level playing field in the upcoming polls.
On Dec 22, the apex court had directed the ECP to attend to the PTI’s grievances urgently and resolve these expeditiously to ensure that the electoral process remains smooth, open, transparent, free and fair.
Let this exercise be completed by ECP promptly without disturbing the timelines given in the election programme because “voters must have faith in the electoral process for our democracy to succeed”, the order — issued on a PTI petition seeking a level playing field — had stated.
However, in a fresh application filed last week, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan sought the initiation of contempt proceedings against the electoral watchdog for non-compliance with the SC’s Dec 22 orders.
Also read: ECP indicts ex PTI chief, Fawad Chaudhry in contempt case
The ECP and the PTI have been in “bat blood” over the past few months after the commission stripped the party of its symbol. While the decision was later suspended by the Peshawar High Court, the PTI alleged conspiracies were being hatched to snatch its iconic electoral symbol and exclude it from the Feb 8 general elections.Moreover, the top leadership of the party and its allies have been knocked out of the polls race, as almost “90 per cent of nominations from important leaders” failed to stand the scrutiny exercise. They have now decided to challenge the rejections.
On Monday, Shaheen had appeared before the SC to request early fixing of the level playing field case but was told to wait till the tea break. He was later told that the hearing had been fixed.
Ahead of the hearing today, the PTI submitted a Civil Miscellaneous Application, outlining the rejection of its leaders’ nomination papers, PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen told Dawn.com.
During the proceeding, the SC directed Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar, the provincial advocate general and chief secretary to submit a report on whether the apex court’s Dec 22 directives had been complied with. The case was later adjourned till Jan 8.
