ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah on Friday observed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) allegations of denial of the level-playing field ahead of the upcoming general elections are “prima facie correct”.
He made these observations while hearing the PTI’s petition seeking a level-playing field in the general elections.
A three-member bench comprising acting chief justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Minallah and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah heard the petition.
Referring to the raid at the ex-PTI leader’s house, Justice Minallah said whatever happened at politician Usman Dar’s house was published in the newspapers.
The director general law of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was also present in the court.
The top court directed the ECP representative to meet the PTI counsels at 3:00pm today to address the party’s concerns regarding level-playing field.
The SC also ordered attorney general to assist the ECP in meeting with the PTI lawyers.
Also read: ECP assures PTI of ‘level playing field’ for elections
PTI founder Imran Khan’s lawyer, Shoaib Shaheen said Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) orders were still being issued against their leaders despite the issuance of the election schedule.
Neither the PTI candidates were being provided with the nomination papers, nor they were allowed to submit them, he said.
Acting Chief Justice Sardar Tariq Masood inquired why the ECP was not taking any steps to stop the issuance of the MPO orders.
Justice Masood said an order would be issued to the electoral authority to redress all the complaints after reviewing them.
Lawyer Shoaib Shaheen said they should be allowed to submit the papers to the Election Commission if the returning officers did not accept them
The apex court directed the ECP to address all their complaints. To which, the ECP and attorney general assured the court of cooperation.
Justice Shah also inquired the attorney general what the solution was to all that matter. The attorney general said the ECP should seek reports from all the inspector generals and ensure that no candidate faced an issue.
Justice Masood directed all the IGs not to harass PTI candidates. The PTI’s counsel said even lawyers were being arrested from the ROs’ offices.
Justice Masood said many PTI leaders were wanted in different cases. The wanted leaders were appearing in the respective courts, replied lawyer Shoaib Shaheen.
“They are also taking protective bails from the relevant high court, yet they are being arrested,” said the lawyer.
After hearing the arguments, SC disposed of the PTI petition pertaining to the level-playing field in the upcoming general elections.
The case was fixed for hearing earlier today (Friday) during the hearing of the cipher case against former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI lawyer raised the issue before a three-judge bench headed by interim Chief Justice Masood.
Lawyer Niazullah Niazi informed the court that PTI candidates were not allowed to file nomination papers.
To which, Justice Masood said the Registrar Office would fix the case for hearing today. “If your candidate is an absconder then how can he file the nomination paper,” he asked the PTI counsel.
At this Niazi shared that “Umair Niazi’s, who is present in the court, father’s nomination papers were torn apart. The election commission has also not announced the verdict regarding the election symbol.”
