The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday, asking the court to hold the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and its administrative members in contempt for alleged disregard of the Court’s December 22 order. This order directly instructed the ECP to ensure a fair playing field for the impending general elections in Pakistan.
The PTI asserts that the ECP has willfully ignored their pleas for intervention against perceived injustices experienced by the party, directly going against the court’s own instruction. The petition was lodged in the Supreme Court by PTI leader and counsel, Shoaib Shaheen, representing party Chairman Gohar Ali Khan.
Cited respondents in the petition include the Federal Interior Secretary, Aftab Akbar Durrani, ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan, chief secretaries, and inspector generals of police from the four provinces of Pakistan. The PTI claims that these officials have been working in collaboration against the party and its members. Based on the Constitution, the ECP is required to initiate actions and establish orders that create a fair environment for all contesting parties during elections.
The PTI charges that the ECP has been overlooking the supposed unfair treatment of its members and has itself become complicit in their alleged mistreatment. Despite the court’s unambiguous directions, the ECP is accused of failing to enforce them, a move the PTI deems to be an act of contempt of court.
Pakistan’s general elections are slated for February 8, 2024, where representatives are to be chosen for the 16th National Assembly. The PTI, being a prominent political party, has previously filed a constitutional petition asserting that its party members are subject to arrests, harassment, and confiscation of nomination papers, which they argue contradicts the principles of fair and open electoral processes. The PTI has additionally urged the ECP to facilitate a fair contestation environment for its leaders and supporters.
The Supreme Court emphasized the ECP’s crucial role in overseeing democratic elections in its December 22 order. The Court directed the ECP to address grievances promptly without causing disruptions to the election timeline, underscoring that the conduct of fair elections takes precedence over election outcomes.
Established on March 23, 1956, under Article 218 of the Pakistan Constitution, the ECP is a constitutional body with full financial autonomy and independence from governmental influence. The ECP is responsible for regulating and carrying out honest, just, and fair elections at assembly, senate, and local government levels.
There have been numerous allegations brought against the ECP by the PTI in recent times. Earlier in the week, the Peshawar High Court suspended the ECP’s ruling that deemed PTI’s intra-party elections as unconstitutional and revoked their ‘bat’ symbol.