Islamabad: Will Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) able to get bat symbol for upcoming general elections or not? it is expected that the Supreme Court (SC) will pronounce the verdict tomorrow.
The hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) appeal against the judgement of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) will be held tomorrow.
The top court has ordered the additional attorney general to ensure his presence in the hearing tomorrow.
A three member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarat Hilali are hearing the case.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked that where did the intra-party elections of the PTI held? how did the PTI members know where they have to go for vote?
The CJ said that there is noting on the record adding that we proceed the case on the basis of the documents.
He said that the ECP is a constitutional institution and no any institution can interfere in its matters.
He went on to say that how did the PTI reach PHC while pending the case in the Lahore High Court (LHC)?
Justice Musarat Hilali said that why did the PTI hold the election in the unknown village?
Counsel of the ECP Makhdoom Ali Khan adopted the view that PTI intra party elections were held in 2017 and the party is bound to hold elections under the constitution in 2022 while the ECP issued notice to the PTI over not holding the elections.
The PTI counsel Hamid Khan said that the SC had declared that no any institution can file appeal in the defence of its verdict, however, effected party can file appeal not the ECP while he questioned that did the district judge can file appeal against annulling of his judgement.
The CJ replied that district judge is under the judiciary but the ECP is a separate constitutional institution.
He questioned that did the ECP surrender itself after getting verdict against its judgement?
The CJ said that you kicked out Akbar S Baber from the party then he asked Hamid Khan who is the secretary general of the PTI? to which Hamid Khan apprised that Asad Umar was former secretary general while now Umar Ayub is the party secretary general of the party.
The CJ again questioned did Asad Umar leave the party? to which Makhdom Ali Khan replied that we heard from the media reports that Asad Umar has left the party while how Asad Umar became secretary general of the party there is nothing on the record of the ECP.
The CJ asked that where did the PTI intra-party elections were held? did it happen in any hotel, office or home?
Justice Musarat Hilali asked that why did the elections were held at the unknown village?
To which the PTI counsels replied that the elections were held at the Chamkani ground, Peshawar. The PTI counsel Hamid Khan said that there was no security available except Peshawar.
The Chief Election Commissioner of the party Niyaz Ullah Niyazi apprised that people were informed on the whatsapp and people reached as well.
He said that we have videos of the election and you can play it, to which, the CJ remarked that play the videos outside the court we proceed the cases on the documents.
The CJ said that why did the PTI not like the LHC? the CJ said that approaching to courts of your choice disturb the system.
Meanwhile, the CJ in its order remarked that we were informed that the matter is of immediate hearing owing to the general elections while he said that thanks for disturbing our weekend.
The hearing will be held again on tomorrow at 10 am.
