Appeals court orders ECP to address complaints regarding a level playing field by PTI

ISLAMABAD: The Appeals court ordered ECP to address complaints regarding a level playing field by PTI, In response, the ECP and attorney general assured the court of their cooperation.

Upon hearing the petition requesting a level playing field for the upcoming elections, Justice Athar Minallah stated that “apparently” the allegation of an unequal playing field was true.

As a result of the raid on Usman Dar’s house, Justice Athar Minallah said that whatever happened at the politician’s house was reported in the press.

During the hearing of the petition filed by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, a three-member bench comprising acting chief justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Minallah and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was convened.

There was also a representative of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the court. As directed by the top court, the ECP representative will meet with the lawyers of the PTI at 3:00 pm today in order to address the concerns of the party.

Moreover, the SC has instructed Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan to assist the ECP during the meeting with the PTI lawyers.

Shoaib Shaheen, the lawyer for PTI founder Imran Khan, said Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) orders were still being issued against his leaders.

The PTI candidates were neither provided with the nomination papers nor permitted to submit them, he stated.

Justice Sardar Tariq Masood then asked why the ECP had not taken any action to prevent the issuance of MPO orders.

Following a review of all the complaints, an order would be issued to the electoral authority to redress them.

Appeals court orders ECP to address complaints regarding a level playing field by PTI, The lawyer Shoaib Shaheen said that if the returning officers did not accept the papers, they should be allowed to submit them to the Election Commission.

According to the apex court, all complaints should be addressed by the ECP. Consequently, the ECP and attorney general assured the court of their cooperation.

Justice Shah also asked the attorney general what the solution was to all of these problems. According to the attorney general, the ECP should obtain reports from all inspector generals and ensure that no candidate faces any difficulties.

In his ruling, Justice Masood instructed the IGs not to harass PTI candidates. According to the PTI’s counsel, even lawyers were being arrested from the ROs’ offices.

Appeals court orders ECP to address complaints regarding a level playing field by PTI, According to the acting CJP, numerous PTI leaders are wanted in a variety of cases. Lawyer Shoaib Shaheen stated that the wanted leaders were appearing in their respective courts.

According to the lawyer, “They have also been granted protective bail by the relevant high courts, yet they continue to be held in custody.”.

As a result of hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court disposed of the PTI petition concerning the level playing field in the upcoming general elections.