The Supreme Court instructs

By Imtiaz Hussain Abro.

The Supreme Court instructs the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to address the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) concerns regarding achieving a fair and equitable playing field. 

ISLAMABAD: On Friday, the Supreme Court issued directives to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to attend to the concerns raised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding the absence of a fair playing field for the forthcoming general elections. A three-member bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, heard the four applications submitted by PTI lawyer Shoaib Shaheen. He emphasized that while the election schedule had been released, PTI candidates were facing challenges in obtaining nomination papers.

Shaheen also asserted that orders for the detention of PTI activists under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) were being issued. In response, Justice Masood questioned why the ECP was unable to prevent the issuance of MPO orders.

The director general of the ECP’s law department informed the court that no complaints had been received about the snatching of nomination papers from PTI candidates. The court observed that if political parties were lodging complaints, it indicated a lapse in the ECP’s functioning.

Justice Athar Manullah, sitting on the bench, commented on what was reported in newspapers regarding the ECP’s actions. He noted that the caretaker government and the ECP took no action in response to the incident involving Usman Dar’s mother, stating, “Apparently, the allegation of not having a level playing field was true.”

Justice Manullah emphasized that treating everyone equally constituted a level-playing field. Additionally, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, also on the bench, suggested that the ECP should promptly meet with political parties. Upon disposing of the petitions, Justice Masood instructed all provincial police chiefs not to harass PTI candidates.

Following the hearing, the court issued a written order stating that the ECP should address the PTI’s complaints without disrupting the election schedule. It stressed that transparent elections were crucial for maintaining public confidence in the democratic process.

The court declared that elections should genuinely reflect the will of the people and emphasized that a level-playing field was essential for healthy competition. The verdict highlighted the ECP’s responsibility to ensure that all parties have equal opportunities in the electoral process.

According to Express News, in response to the Supreme Court order, the ECP sent letters to provincial election commissioners, chief secretaries, and inspectors general of police, instructing them to address PTI’s complaints in accordance with the law.

The letter from the ECP secretary stated that complaints had been received about obstacles in the election process. It noted media-reported difficulties in obtaining and submitting nomination papers, as well as incidents of paper snatching. A PTI delegation, after meeting with the ECP, conveyed that the ECP assured them of addressing concerns regarding the lack of a level playing field in the lead-up to the February 8 general election. The ECP further pledged to take action against personnel and police officers involved in hindering the election process or engaging in illegal activities to impede the electoral process.