ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Punjab inspector general of police, chief secretary and advocate general while hearing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) contempt petition filed for providing level playing field in the general elections 2024.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali is hearing the PTI petition.
The CJP asked PTI counsel Latif Khosa to file appeals against rejection of nomination papers in the appellate tribunals when he complained of highhandedness of authorities.
Advocate Khosa submitted that when the party candidates reached returning officers’ office to submit their nomination papers, police sealed the commissioners’ offices.
Moreover, the returning officers were not giving the candidates copies of their decisions regarding rejection of nomination papers. How the candidates could move the tribunal without the copy of the decision, he added.
Meanwhile, the PTI lawyers submitted additional documents containing a list of 668 top leaders’ names whose nomination papers have been rejected.
According to the documents, nomination papers of around 2,000 PTI-backed candidates were rejected. Apart from that, nomination papers of 56 candidates were snatched and PTI candidates’ proposers and seconders were arrested.
THE PROCEEDINGS
At the outset of proceedings, Chief Justice Isa called Shoaib Shaheen to rostrum as he was petitioner. He submitted that Latif Khosa was a senior lawyer and he had requested him to argue for him.
CJP Isa expressed his displeasure on writing the word “Sardar” before his name Latif Khosa. “Stop writing these words like Sardar, Nawab and Peer. Since 1976, the chieftaincy system has been abolished. Either run the country under the constitution or the Sardari system. Stop making fun of the constitution of Pakistan now.”
Advocate Khosa said that Sardar is written on his identity card.
Justice Mazhar asked him whether he approached the Election Commission on the order of the Supreme Court. CJP Isa asked what relief he wanted.
Justice Mazhar said that your case is of contempt of court and not a new case. “The main case has been disposed of on December 22. Your petition contains the names of those who committed contempt of court. Has the Election Commission committed contempt of court? Has the Election Commission given any decision against you? Did the Election Commission give orders to the provincial Election Commission.”
The chief justice said if the Election Commission has committed contempt of court, give an evidence in this regard.
Advocate Khosa said that has a CD containing all the evidence. The party leaders were not allowed to submit nomination papers. The whole country saw what was happening with the PTI, he added.
CJP Isa forbade him to politicise the matter. Talk about the constitution and the law, he continued.
The CJP asked him whether the IG and the chief secretary took action. “What do the IG and the chief secretary have to do with the elections? It is the duty of the Election Commission to conduct transparent elections, not the IG and the chief secretary,” he observed.
He said that the petition for contempt of court was against the Election Commission. How the Election Commission committed the contempt of court, he questioned.
You moved the court for contempt under Article 204, now give the evidence, he told Advocate Khosa.
“I don't understand why we are hearing this contempt of court? If there is a problem with the IG and the chief secretary, file an application against them. Do you want action against the individuals or against the Election Commission?”
Justice Mazhar said that how many nomination papers of PTI candidates for national and provincial assemblies were approved? You are mentioning only those nomination papers which have been rejected.
He said you wrote that according to social media, so many nomination papers were rejected. PTI does not have complete data of acceptance or rejection of papers.
“There is also a mention of ‘major family’ in the application. Is any major contesting elections,” Justice Mazhar questioned.
Advocate Khosa said that the nomination papers of only one political party are being rejected.
The CJP asked him whether he was accusing the IG of contempt of court.
The CJP asked him what the provincial Election Commission has to do with this case. Have you filed a complaint with the Election Commission?
Advocate Khosa said that many people have filed complaints. The chief justice asked him to show any complaint but Khosa failed to give any evidence.
The CJP told Advocate Khosa that he was wasting time.
Later, the CJP adjourned the hearing for January 8.