During the hearing at the Peshawar High Court regarding the contempt of court case over denying permission for PTI rallies, Justice Ijaz Anwar made significant observations.
He noted that while Section 144 is applied if a political party wishes to hold a rally, there seem to be no similar restrictions imposed on other parties. The Chief Secretary, Advocate General, and DG Law Election Commission were present at this hearing, alongside lawyers representing PTI and the election commission.
Justice Ijaz Anwar raised concerns about the unequal treatment, questioning whether a particular party’s meetings were the sole reason for law and order issues. The Chief Secretary assured equal opportunities for all parties, mentioning the recent PTI workers’ convention that adhered to SOPs, while ANP and JUI events did not, leading to their rejection.
Justice SM Atiq Shah highlighted that without court intervention, certain parties struggled to obtain permission. Justice Ijaz Anwar directed questions to the Election Commission’s lawyer, criticizing the lack of response to reported targeting of a party and emphasizing the need for a fair playing field.
The Election Commission’s lawyer assured efforts to maintain fairness and intervene where violations occur. However, Justice SM Atiq Shah pointed out media reports alleging the lack of a level playing field for one party, contrasting with the Commission’s claim of no complaints.
Subsequently, Justice Ijaz Anwar emphasized that the Chief Secretary and Election Commission should address requests while ensuring a level playing field. The court concluded the contempt petition upon receiving assurance from the Chief Secretary.
