ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday issued notice to the Inspector General of Police, Punjab and the Punjab chief secretary on a plea moved by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking directives for level-playing field for the upcoming elections.
A SC three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali passed the orders.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) filed the petition and sought contempt of court proceedings against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), arguing that the ECP failed to address the party’s concerns about a level-playing field ahead of the upcoming polls.
The proceedings were streamed live on the apex court’s website.
During the hearing, the PTI presented additional documents to the Supreme Court, presenting evidence of an alleged denial of a level-playing field.
The documents highlighted that the nomination papers of 668 PTI candidates were turned down by returning officers appointed by the ECP.
The petition, moved on behalf of Barrister Gohar Ali Khan through Shaheen, called for a directive from the Supreme Court to ensure a level playing field.
It emphasized that the PTI candidates, workers, and leaders should not face arrests or harassment by the authorities.
The petitioners asked the top court direct the respondents including Interior Secretary, ECP Secretary, chief secretaries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan, as well as IGs of Punjab, Balochistan, KP, and Sindh, to provide a level playing field for free and fair elections in the interest of justice.
On Dec 22, the apex court had directed the ECP to address the PTI’s complaints regarding a level playing field in the general election scheduled for February 8, 2024.
After the apex court directives, the ECP took notice of PTI’s reservations and instructed provincial election commissioners, chief secretaries, and inspector-generals to address the concerns of the PTI, specifically related to candidate mishandling and difficulties in filing nomination papers.
