Chief Justice ISA Responds Firmly to Imran Khan’s Concerns for a Fair Election Playing Field

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa has replied to a letter from Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), regarding fair play in the upcoming general elections on February 8, 2024.

In a letter from Dr. Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmad, the top judge’s secretary, it was stated that Chief Justice Isa is aware of his constitutional duties and will not be influenced or show favoritism to anyone.

Imran Khan had requested the chief justice to take notice of what he perceived as “discrimination” against PTI, including arrests and cases filed against the party leaders.

The statement from the top court emphasized that Chief Justice Isa will uphold his duties impartially. The letter from PTI, received on December 1, was described as a seven-page application with tables and photocopies, totaling 84 pages, and it was sent by Intazar Hussain Panjutha.

The statement also raised concerns about the letter being distributed to the media even before it reached them. It noted that the political party supposedly behind the document is well represented by advocates who recently handled significant cases in the Supreme Court.

Imran Khan, no longer the party’s chairman, had urged the chief justice to direct federal and provincial governments and the Election Commission of Pakistan to permit PTI to hold political meetings without discrimination.

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In his letter, Imran claimed that PTI leaders and activists were facing multiple criminal cases as a tactic to keep them in custody, terming it a widespread “tactic of abuse and oppression.”

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The former prime minister pointed out that individuals who were granted bail in one case were immediately implicated in new cases related to past events. He described this as a strategy used throughout the country against PTI affiliates.