ISLAMABAD The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday said regulating political parties is the job of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
These remarks were made by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa while hearing the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) appeal against the Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict restoring the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) electoral symbol — bat.
“SC will not interfere in the domain of the Election Commission of Pakistan. However, if ECP commits any unconstitutional act then the court can look into it,” the CJP added.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarat Hilali hearing the electoral body’s appeal.
The proceedings of the case are being broadcast live on the SC website and YouTube channel.
Barrister Gohar, Shoaib Shaheen, Niazullah and Waleed Iqbal attended court proceedings today. PTI’s lawyer Hamid Khan in his remarks said the SC has clarified that no institution can file an appeal against the verdicts.
The ECP can file a review on appeals else there will be no worth of its decisions, the CJP remarked and added if the argument of PTI is accepted then questions will also be raised on its appeal in Peshawar High Court.
The CJP Isa asked Makhdoom whether the PHC’s written order had been issued or not, the latter replied that it had not been.
The lawyer then read out the PHC order that restored the PTI’s ‘bat’ symbol. He said that the ECP had not yet received “any notice” of the PHC order, to which the chief justice said, “I have not read the case file either.”
The top judge asked Makhdoom when he would be ready to present the case, at which the counsel urged the SC to adjourn the hearing till Monday. Makhdoom further said that the political parties would be allotted electoral symbols tomorrow.
The top judge observed that to adjourn the hearing till Monday, the PHC’s recent verdict would have to be suspended, adding that the apex court was ready to hear the case on Saturday and Sunday as well.
The ECP lawyer then sought time till today to prepare for the case.
Online adds: Supreme Court (SC) while upholding Election Commission (EC) decision has rejected All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) petition against non allotment of election symbol of eagle.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa said to counsel for APML that neither you held intra party election nor you gave record to EC. Avoid from destroying the constitutional institutions by leveling the allegations of mala-fide intent against them. This has become tradition in the country to level the charge of ill-intent against every one.
A 3-member bench of SC presided over by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa took up the case for hearing Friday.
Counsel for APML appeared in the court.
Justice Musarrat Hilali inquired from him the pictures of Quaid-e-Azam and Liaqat Ali Khan have been found in your nomination papers. Were they members of your party. Political parties work under election act at present.
The counsel replied our rival group have filed the pictures of Quaid-e-Azam and Liaqat Ali Khan. We had symbol of eagle. It is mentioned in the documents of EC. EC snatched election symbol eagle with ill intent.
The CJP remarked EC has abolished your party on several reasons. It has become tradition to discredit any one. Efforts are being made to annihilate constitutional institutions by leveling allegations against them. Deputy director law EC issued notice to you but what order was passed was from EC.
The court rejected the petition of APML against non allocation of election symbol of eagle.
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