The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has withdrawn its petition from the Supreme Court seeking a level playing field in the upcoming general elections.

As the hearing of the PTI’s appeal began in the Supreme Court on Monday, counsel Latif Khosa said the party would like to go to the people's court for the survival of democracy.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan  (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali, heard the case. 

“We want to go to the court of 250 million people,” he asserted, and told the CJP: “Thank you very much.”

CJP Qazi Faez Isa asked: “Do you want to pursue the case or not?”

Khosa replied that he had been instructed to withdraw the application. “We came to you for a level playing field for fair and transparent elections, but you deprived us of 230 seats through the judgement,” he remarked, adding that people had been allotted symbols like glass, eggplant, bowl etc. 

Also Read: PTI loses its iconic 'bat' symbol again as SC annuls PHC verdict

“We have been humiliated,” the lawyer said. 

In response, CJP Isa said whether they wanted to accept the court’s decision or not was their choice, adding that the judges should not be blamed for the court’s verdict. 

'Snatched the field'

Latif Khosa told the CJP the court had snatched the field from the PTI and insulted the party.

“A party is being banned by evicting it from parliament,” he added. “All the PTI candidates will contest elections as independent candidates and suffer from confusion.” 

Also Read: PTI candidates opt for independent symbols, withdraw PTI-N tickets

Justice Hilali asked if Khosa thought the elections were not going to be transparent. He replied that the elections were totally unfair.

Khosa further said that they rendered sacrifices for the judiciary. At this, the CJP said he should allow the judges to speak to. “It is not appropriate to talk about another case during the present case,” CJP Isa remarked.

“Do not blame us for the Supreme Court’s decision,” he added.

Democracy at stake

Khosa said the court’s decision will destroy democracy. The CJP reminded him that the court had asked them repeatedly to prove the intra-party elections were held. “If you don't like the decision, we can't do anything about it,” the top judge remarked.

He further remarked that the court can only pronounce an order and not become the government. He added that police officials were suspended in the case of a raid at PTI leader Barrister Gohar’s house.

“Our job is to ensure elections are conducted according to the law,” the chief justice said, adding that the court raised the issue of elections and fixed a date in 12 days on the PTI's appeal. 

Also Read: If PTI wants level playing field, it should offer it within party also: SC judge

The Election Commission of Pakistan kept asked the PTI to hold intra-party poll, but to no avail. “If you have any objection to any other political party, submit a petition,” CJP Isa said. 

The CJP further told the counsel if they did not like the law, they could change it, as the court didn’t make law, only enforced it.

Out of parliamentary politics

Khosa asked that if the Awami National Party could be returned its election symbol by the Election Commission of Pakistan, why not the PTI.

The CJP remarked that they found out yesterday that there was still time according to the Awami National Party’s constitution and told Khosa he was destroying all the national institutions.

Khosa further told the court that the leader of the party they had allied with was picked up and forced to do a press conference. He also claimed that preparations are being made to lodge cases against them even for forging alliances. 

Also Read: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar's house 'raided', documents 'taken away'

He said the court’s decision kicked the PTI out of parliamentary politics, after which the party leaders will contest elections as independents.

Justice Hilali asked if the election commission was not fair and if it was running after just one party and could not see other political parties.

The Supreme Court disposed of the PTI’s petition as withdrawn.

In a major blow to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Supreme Court has revoked its iconic cricket bat symbol and overturned the Peshawar High Court's verdict that reinstated it. 

The apex court's ruling stems from allegations of irregularities in PTI's internal elections held last year. While the Peshawar High Court had dismissed these allegations and restored the bat symbol, the Supreme Court has deemed the elections "unconstitutional" and invalidated the symbol.

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, while delivering the verdict, announced that the detailed decision would be uploaded on the official website. He mentioned that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had received numerous complaints regarding PTI's intra-party elections.

In a decisive verdict, the Supreme Court stated that PTI was directed by the Commission to conduct intra-party elections in 2021, which the party failed to fulfil.