On Monday, Justice Musarrat Hilali from the Supreme Court expressed concerns about how the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is handling matters related to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ahead of the upcoming general elections on February 8.
During a hearing about PTI’s request to withdraw its plea for a level playing field, Justice Hilali remarked that the Election Commission seems biased, saying, “It is running behind one party. Does the Election Commission not see other parties?”
The PTI had initially filed a petition on December 26, seeking contempt proceedings against the ECP for not ensuring a fair playing field. However, during the recent hearing, PTI withdrew its petition, and the Supreme Court disposed of the case.
The PTI’s lawyer, Latif Khosa, informed Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa that his party would approach the “people’s court” regarding the matter. He expressed disappointment with the January 13 Supreme Court verdict, which deprived PTI of its ‘bat’ symbol, claiming it “snatched” 230 seats from the party.
CJP Isa asked if PTI wanted to continue the case, to which Khosa replied that he had been directed to withdraw the plea. Khosa argued that by withdrawing the election symbol, the ECP was effectively banning one of the parties from the parliament, and all PTI candidates would now run as independents, causing confusion.
Khosa also mentioned that PTI-Nazriyati’s leader, with whom they had a deal, was forced to hold a press conference after being picked up.
CJP Isa expressed that if PTI didn’t accept the verdict, there was nothing more the court could do. He criticized PTI for not holding intra-party polls as directed by the ECP.
The PTI’s original plea lamented the ECP’s failure to address the party’s concerns about a fair political playing field, despite the Supreme Court’s directions. The ECP had assured PTI of a level playing field after a meeting on December 22, following the top court’s ruling. The PTI contended that the ECP did not adhere to the court’s verdict, as harassment and arrests of PTI candidates continued.
In their plea, PTI sought action against those responsible for violating the court’s order and requested the court to ensure that their candidates could freely hold rallies and political gatherings in preparation for the February 8 polls.