Islamabad: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has withdrawn its petition seeking contempt proceedings against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over its alleged failure to ensure a level playing field before the elections.
PTI moved the Supreme Court on December 26 last year with the plea. However, the top court today disposed of the plea after the withdrawal of the petition.
PTI lawyer Latif Khosa told CJP Isa that his party will approach the People’s Court in this matter.
“We do not want to fight this case in your [Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa’s] court. Thank you very much,” said Khosa.
“Do you want to continue this case or not?” asked CJP Isa. At this, Khosa replied that he had been directed to withdraw the plea.
“We came to your court to get a level playing field. The verdict that was announced on January 13 at 11:30 pm shattered the PTI,” he said, adding that “you snatched PTI’s field”.
At this, CJP Isa said: “If you don’t accept the verdict then there’s nothing the [court] can do.”
He added that the ECP continuously directed the PTI to conduct intra-party polls but they were still not held.
“You are destroying all the institutions of Pakistan,” CJP told Khosa.
Meanwhile, during the hearing, Justice Musarrat Hilali raised reservations over the ECP’s conduct and its handling of matters related to the PTI ahead of the polls on February 8.
“The Election Commission is not fair. It is running behind one party,” she remarked during the hearing of the PTI’s request for withdrawal of its level playing field plea.
Justice Hilali then pointed out whether the electoral body can see any other parties or not. “Does the Election Commission not see other parties?”
