The Supreme Court issued notices to the Chief Secretary Punjab, IG Punjab, and Advocate General Punjab regarding the PTI’s plea for a fair election ground. PTI’s lawyer, Latif Khosa, argued for equal opportunities in Punjab.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa asked about their complaint submission to the Election Commission. Khosa mentioned the Provincial Election Commissioner’s letter to Punjab’s Chief Secretary and IG on December 24, implying they hadn’t directly lodged a complaint.
Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa referenced past instances of allegations by PTI in the 2013 elections, mentioning their responsibility in appointing the current Chief Election Commissioner. He noted that similar allegations without solid evidence wasted court time previously.
Emphasizing that the case should belong to the High Court, the Chief Justice urged a positive perspective, stating they had provided additional consideration. He cautioned against portraying the situation as universally negative and clarified the court’s role in questioning without causing offense.
Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa highlighted the judiciary’s stance on nomination papers, emphasizing that election tribunals handle objections to rejections, and courts support fairness for all political parties during elections.
The Supreme Court referred to the Provincial Election Commissioner’s letter of December 24 and the Election Commission’s comprehensive 160-page report submitted on December 26. The petitioner indicated the Commissioner’s instructions weren’t being followed.
In short, the Supreme Court addressed the PTI’s plea for fairness in Punjab’s elections, referencing prior instances, stressing the court’s role, and highlighting the Election Commission’s reports and instructions from the Provincial Election Commissioner.
