IHC bars police from harassing PTI candidates, workers

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained the police on Tuesday from harassing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates and workers partaking in election activities.

The order came just two days before the general elections scheduled for February 8, with a bat-less PTI struggling to run their election campaign due to hindrances and unofficial restrictions.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the plea of PTI lawyers Shoaib Shaheen and Ali Bukhari regarding the harassment of party workers and seeking permission to conduct the party's election campaign unhindered.

During the hearing, the lawyer of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated that all applications received were processed and IG Islamabad had been directed to look into the matter.

A senior police official present in court, SSP Operations, said only two out of 112 PTI candidates have alleged harassment.

Justice Farooq said that deliberately picking people up is not at all appropriate. “You are the responsible officer, so you have been summoned, otherwise we will summon the IG and Secretary Home.”

Read: PTI’s request to hold rally at Liaquat Bagh rejected

The ECP is obliged to conduct free and fair elections, said the high court chief justice.

“Why are you not looking at all things under your authority? I have seen on TV that the electoral watchdog has taken notice of the press conference in Lahore, Islamabad is a small city, why can't you take action here," Justice Farooq asked the ECP counsel. 

PTI's counsel remarked that the election campaign will end today and now a "new phase of abducting the polling agents will begin".

Shaheen informed the court that the police were 'picking up their supporters and telling them to leave PTI', adding that party workers were being pressured to join another party.

“They are making phone calls and telling PTI candidates that if they hold a rally, they will be booked under a case,” added Shaheen.

Bukhari reiterated that all election campaigns and rallies will end today, and PTI's polling agents are being threatened on calls.

Shaheen said, “If the model police of Islamabad will adopt this behaviour, then what will be their image?”

Following these remarks, the court directed the police to not harass Imran Khan’s party workers and candidates and adjourned the hearing till next week.