A lawyer representing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) failed to appear before the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday in a case related to providing a level playing field in the upcoming elections.
The PTI lawyer had been scheduled to appear before Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa. The Chief Justice had instructed the PTI lawyer to appear at 11 am after a recess.
After the recess, the PTI lawyer did not appear in court, and proceedings were initiated by the Supreme Court Bench once the cases were complete.
Journalists criticized the lawyer’s absence, stating that the advocate held a press talk but didn’t focus on the case.
پی ٹی آئی کو یوتھیوبروں اور وُکلا نے مروایا ہے۔۔ چیف جسٹس قاضی فائز عیسیٰ نے “لیول پلئینگ فیلڈ” کی پی ٹی آئی کی درخواست پر تحریکِ انصاف کے شعیب شاہین ایڈوکیٹ کو بریک کے بعد سُننے کا وقت دیا لیکن بریک کے بعد موصوف کورٹ روم نمبر ون میں روسٹرم پر کھڑے ہونے کی بجائے سُپریم کورٹ کی… pic.twitter.com/OXLAp2WBDH
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) January 1, 2024
PTI’s lawyer, Shoaib Shaheen, stated that his team had a meeting with the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
صدیق جان اور پی ٹی آئی کی سوشل میڈیا ٹیمز پر شعیب شاھین نے لعنت بھیج دی ھے۔ pic.twitter.com/uGPzIwaVPJ
— صحرانورد (@Aadiiroy2) January 1, 2024
He further mentioned that the Registrar had assured them that the application would be scheduled for a hearing either today or tomorrow, expressing confidence that their application will be heard. He also said that PTI’s legal team is doing their best.
In another electoral development, a written decision has been issued rejecting the nomination papers of former PTI Chairman Imran Khan for NA-122 and NA-89 constituencies in Lahore.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Rai Muhammad Ali, described in detail that he was unable to meet Imran Khan for the signing of nomination papers.
He further stated that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) changed the constituency of people at the last moment which led to the rejection of nomination papers.
یہ ہے پی ٹی آئی کا اپنا بندہ۔۔
— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) December 30, 2023
جس کی ایک غلطی سے خان کے کاغذات نامزدگی فارغ ہوئے
یہ جیل میں خان سے خود ملا تھا پھر ۔۔ اس نے غلطی کیوں کی؟#DunyaNews #DunyaUpdates #breakingnews #PTI@m__ashfaq pic.twitter.com/KSCR1zZNcs
According to the decision, Imran Khan has been sentenced to five years for ethical misconduct, and he has been declared ineligible under Article 63 of the Constitution.
The decision clarified that Imran Khan has not been disqualified or declared defunct; rather, he has been declared ineligible under Article 63, and the complainant’s objections are legal.
It’s noteworthy that Mian Nasir Ahmad, a former PML-N MPA, had raised objections to Imran Khan’s nomination papers. After a three-year legal battle, the Election Commission decided to declare Imran Khan ineligible for five years.
Imran Khan now has the option to file an appeal in the High Court. Appeals in the High Court Tribunal will be accepted from January 1 to January 3, and the Election Tribunal will begin hearings from January 3. The Election Tribunal will make decisions on all appeals by January 10.
As the legal proceedings unfold, with 3345 candidates screened during the scrutiny process, the election process for the third phase of general elections 2024 is well underway. The Supreme Court and Election Tribunal will play pivotal roles in ensuring fair and transparent elections in the country.
