ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) delivered a resolute order on Tuesday, commanding the police to halt the harassment of candidates and workers associated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party.
The ruling was prompted by a petition filed by PTI nominees Shoaib Shaheen and Ali Bukhari Advocate, who decried the lack of a fair playing field in the political landscape.
During the hearing, Shaheen voiced concerns about alleged police intimidation tactics, such as pressuring PTI supporters to defect to other parties and issuing threats against those involved in organizing party activities.
Ali Bukhari Advocate highlighted the obstacles encountered by PTI campaigners, citing incidents of intimidation against polling agents and disruptions to scheduled election campaigns and rallies.
The Election Commission, represented by its legal counsel, assured the court that all complaints received had been promptly addressed, with orders issued to the Inspector General of Islamabad for a thorough investigation.
However, when questioned by Chief Justice Farooq, the SSP Operations of Islamabad Police claimed that only two out of 112 candidates had filed complaints, a statement met with skepticism by the Chief Justice, who quipped, “Are they the only ones with complaints?”
In response, the SSP Operations maintained that all parties had been afforded a fair playing field, prompting Chief Justice Aamir Farooq to express disbelief, asking pointedly, “Truly?”
Consequently, the Islamabad High Court issued a firm directive to cease the harassment of PTI candidates and workers, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining public trust in the electoral process.
The court underscored the obligation of law enforcement to ensure fair and transparent elections, devoid of intimidation or undue influence.
