ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to Punjab Chief Secretary, IG police, Advocate General and others in PTI’s plea for contempt proceedings against the state officials for violating the apex court orders for ensuring level playing-field to political parties.
The Supreme Court took up the PTI petition seeking contempt of court proceedings for failing to address the party concerns regarding level-playing field ahead of the February 8 elections. A three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musrat Hilali heard the case.
The proceedings of the case were broadcast live on SC’s website and YouTube channel.
PTI lawyer Latif Khosa presented arguments on behalf of Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, who had filed the petition in the court. On December 22, The top court had directed the ECP to address the PTI’s concerns regarding the level-playing field on the former ruling party’s petition.
However, the party after feeling no change on the ground, filed another petition on December 26, seeking contempt of court proceedings against the ECP over their alleged failure to ensure a level playing-field.
At the outset of the hearing, the Chief Justice reprimanded Khosa for using the Sardar title with his name. “Stop using words as Sardar, Peer, and Nawab,” Qazi said while expressing displeasure over the use of such a title.
CJP Isa asked Khosa to present evidence that the ECP had violated the court’s direction regarding the redressal of PTI’s level playing-field grievances. When Khosa told the court that he wanted to play the CDs in the courtroom, the Chief Justice declined to entertain his suggestion.
Khosa said that the PTI leaders were not allowed to submit their nomination papers. “The entire Pakistan saw what happened with PTI,” he added.
The CJP took this as a ‘political speech’ in the courtroom and asked him to only talk about the Constitution and law. The Chief Justice said what does the IG and the Chief Secretary have to do with the election?
“Do you want action against the individuals or the ECP?” the CJP asked.
Khosa replied that it was the responsibility of the ECP to conduct transparent elections.
Justice Mazhar was more interested in knowing the number of nomination papers of the PTI candidates accepted by the returning officers than the number of those rejected. The court will now resume hearing in the case on January 8.
