The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of the PTI’s contempt of court appeal over non-provision of a level-playing field till Monday at the request of PTI's lawyer Latif Khosa.
The court remarked that according to a report, 1,195 PTI candidates submitted their nomination papers, and that if the report was wrong, then something written should be submitted in this regard.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali, heard the petition.
Justice Hilali asked what the matter regarding the snatching of nomination papers was.
The CJP remarked that conducting elections was the job of the Election Commission of Pakistan and not the court. "If someone's documents are being snatched or whatever is happening, the election commission has to look into this. We will only consider it if we receive a complaint or request,” he added.
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The court also restrained PTI lawyer Latif Khosa from making political statements in the courtroom, saying that it seemed he wanted the elections to be delayed while the court wanted the polls to be held.
The court then adjourned hearings in the level-playing field contempt petition till Monday.
Justice Mazhar remarked that according to the election commission’s report submitted to the court, nomination papers of 1,195 PTI members had been submitted, most of which had been accepted.
He further said that the PTI lawyer’s reply itself stated that the election tribunals had given the party relief.
“Does the PTI want 100% of its nomination papers to be approved?” asked the CJP. “Tell us what you want, as this is a court of law, political speeches won’t work here.”
Khosa replied that they wanted a level playing field. CJP Isa told the lawyer not to cry in front of the court, asking what should be done if the party did not trust any institution of Pakistan.
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CJP Isa told Khosa this was not a political forum, and suggested he use many other political forums available.
He further said that the court understood that he only wanted the elections to be delayed, while they wanted the polls to go ahead.
Khosa further told the court that PTI members and leaders were not being allowed to leave their homes. At this, the CJP remarked that the lawyer himself was a political candidate and was standing in court.
The CJP further said that it was the job of the election commission to conduct elections, adding that such institutions had been created by parliament. He then asked if the court should retain all the powers of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Latif Khosa then referred to former PTI chairman Imran Khan’s plea for suspension of his sentence.
On being told by Khosa that his clerk (munshi) was picked up from outside the court, the CJP asked what a munshi was and that there was no concept of a munshi here. He further said that if a complaint about a clerk comes before him he would not even read it.
Furthermore, CJP Isa said the court could not tell returning officers not to reject someone’s nomination papers, asking if the election commission should hear cases or conduct elections.
“The district returning officer, who is also the deputy commissioner, is issuing orders under the MPO,” Khosa said when asked by the CJP about the link between the ECP and MPO orders.
PTI lawyer Shoaib Shaheen then requested the court fix their petition for hearing regarding the party’s election symbol.
The CJP remarked that the most complaints were being filed by the PTI, which were being heard also.
The Supreme Court then decided to hear the PTI’s petition regarding its bat symbol on Wednesday.
In its order for the day’s proceedings, the court said it was asked for time to submit a response to the ECP and chief secretary’s report, adding that Latif Khosa's plea for three days of respite was granted.
