ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) Monday asked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to submit a response to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s report on its being denied the level playing field ahead of the upcoming Feb 8 polls.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali, heard the case. The proceedings were broadcast live on the Supreme Court’s website.
At the outset of the hearing, the Chief Justice asked PTI lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa had he gone through the ECP and the chief secretary reports about being provided a level playing field.
Khosa while rejecting the reports said nomination papers of PTI’s candidates were snatched and of frontline leadership rejected. “Khosa Sahab! you cannot just dismiss the reports, you have to submit a written reply,” the top judge asked.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked as per the ECP, 76pc of nomination papers filed by the PTI candidates were accepted. You are admitting that tribunals gave you relief, he said further.
At this point the CJP asked Khosa, “What do you want from us”. We want a level playing field,” Khosa replied. At this juncture, the CJP said, “Do you want the court to order to accept 100 percent nomination papers of PTI candidates”.
Later, the court ordered PTI to submit a written response to the ECP’s report on the allegations of non-provision of a level playing field with the hearing adjourned until next Monday (January 15).
