PTI withdraws SC plea seeking playing field in general elections

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) decided to withdraw its petition from the Supreme Court, which sought a fair and equitable playing field in the upcoming general elections.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, along with Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Mussarat Hilali, presided over the case.

During the hearing, PTI’s counsel, Sardar Latif Khosa conveyed the party’s decision to withdraw the petition, expressing the desire to turn to the court of public opinion for the preservation of democracy.

He thanked Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who inquired whether the PTI intended to pursue the case. Khosa explained that he had been instructed to withdraw the application, emphasizing that the party sought a level playing field for fair and transparent elections. He voiced dissatisfaction with the allocation of symbols such as glass, eggplant, and bowl to the people, stating that they felt humiliated. Khosa argued that while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) could only revoke the party’s electoral symbol, in this case, the political party was being excluded from parliamentary politics.

In response, Chief Justice Isa clarified that the PTI had been repeatedly urged to provide evidence of intra-party elections, but they had failed to do so.

The Chief Justice emphasized that a decision had already been rendered in the level playing field case, stating that the court could issue orders but could not function as the government. He asserted that the PTI had the right to accept or reject the court’s decision, and the judges should not be held responsible for the verdict.