ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday said the apex court was not acting as government and running campaign of any political party.
The remarks came by the Supreme Court as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI's) counsel Sardar Latif Khosa complained to the court that his party was not being given level playing field and subjected to political victimisation ahead of general elections going to be held on Feb 8.
The court deferred PTI's plea till Jan 15 (Monday).
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. Advocate General Punjab appeared before the apex court.
During the proceedings, the chief justice said the ECP had submitted a detailed report and asked the PTI counsel to point out flaws and shortcomings in the report. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said 1,195 candidates of PTI had submitted nomination papers as per ECP and chief secretary's reports.
CJP Isa asked Khosa, "If you reject this report you must submit some written reply about that." Khosa said no frontline candidate's paper was accepted by the returning officers.
Justice Ali Mazhar remarked that Khosa was saying in his reply that appellate tribunals had given relief to his party candidates.
PTI counsel Latif Khosa said his party demanded level playing field. He said no other party leader was detained under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
He further said his party was not being given permission to hold any rally or public gathering. The chief justice remarked that Section 144 and MPO were being applied indiscriminately. Section 144 and Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) will be applicable to everyone, not any single political party.
The CJP asked from Khosa that which party he was representing. Khosa said he was representing the PTI.
The chief justice asked if Khosa wanted that 100 percent of his party candidates should be given permission to contest elections. Addressing Khosa, CJP Isa said he felt that PTI wanted to delay polls. He said the court was trying its best to hold elections on the specified date.
The CJP said the court was not running campaign of any political party. If ECP had done something wrong, the PTI should have mentioned that clearly.
Khosa sought three-day time to submit response to the replies filed by the Punjab chief secretary and the Election Commission of Pakistan. The Supreme Court, accepting his plea, adjourned hearing of the case till Monday.
PUNJAB CHIEF SECRETARY SUBMITS RESPONSE
The Punjab chief secretary has submitted a detailed response to the Supreme Court in response to a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which sought contempt proceedings due to the alleged non-provision of a level playing field for the upcoming general elections.
In the report, the chief secretary stated that the Punjab government was committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure the conduct of peaceful and transparent elections.
The official added that the directives from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had been communicated to all district returning officers (DROs) for implementation.
The chief secretary said that instructions had been issued to the DROs and other officers to guarantee that all candidates could submit their nomination papers without any fear or danger.
The response emphasised that instructions had been given for initiating strict action against those obstructing the process of filing of nomination papers.
The chief secretary highlighted that in accordance with Article 220, instructions had been given to all deputy commissioners to ensure complete cooperation with the ECP for holding secure and transparent elections.