ISLAMABAD: On Tuesday, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) took its concerns to the Supreme Court, seeking the initiation of contempt of court charges against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and administration members for an alleged breach of the court’s December 22 directives.
The petition, presented on behalf of PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan by Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, also requested the Supreme Court to ensure a fair playing field by preventing the arrest of PTI candidates, workers, and leaders. Instead, the party members should be allowed to participate in the electoral process without harassment of their proposers and seconders.
The Supreme Court, in its December 22 order instructed the ECP to promptly address the party’s concerns and resolve them swiftly to maintain a smooth, transparent, and fair electoral process.
The order emphasized the need for voter faith in the electoral process for the success of democracy.
The contempt of court petition named respondents, including Interior Secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani, ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan, chief secretaries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan, as well as IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar, IG Balochistan Abdul Khalique Sheikh, IG KP Akhtar Hayat, and IG Sindh Riffat Mukhtar.
The petition sought contempt proceedings against these respondents for not complying with the Supreme Court’s December 22 orders.
It also urged the court to issue appropriate orders to ensure neutral conduct by returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
The plea emphasized that PTI and its candidates should not face unlawful or discriminatory treatment.
In a related development, PTI leader Imran Khan filed a fresh petition in the Toshakhana case, seeking to overturn the August 5 conviction by an Additional Session Judge in Islamabad for the alleged illegal sale of state gifts.
The earlier appeal, returned by the Supreme Court office on Saturday, had been challenged by Khan, and the new petition argues for the suspension of the three-year sentence, highlighting that it came up before the Islamabad High Court on August 28 along with the main appeal.
