ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top court criticized a speech delivered by British High Commissioner Jane Marriot in a letter that emerged in the media on Wednesday, saying her reservations about the judiciary’s role in the conduct of the February 8 general elections, which were widely seen as manipulated, were “unjustified.”
The letter written on May 3 referred to the British diplomat’s speech at the Asma Jahangir Conference held last month in Lahore, wherein she said not all political parties were allowed to fully participate in the electoral contest. Her speech, quoted in the media, specifically mentioned the “legal processes” that deprived them of “recognizable party symbols.”
Many Pakistani political parties criticized the last general elections, saying they did not get the required “level playing field” to perform in the national polls. The complaint made by former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was particularly high-pitched, as most of its top leadership found itself behind bars on a number of charges amid a crackdown against them that began after violent protests on May 9, which broke out after Khan was briefly detained in a corruption case.
The PTI was also prevented from using its electoral symbol of a cricket bat after a protracted judicial battle by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a case relating to flawed intra-party polls.
“The law enacted by Parliament (Election Act, 2017) requires democracy within political parties via the holding of periodical intra-party elections; to forestall autocracy, or even dictatorship within them,” the letter written by the Supreme Court registrar explained. “To ensure compliance with this democratic principle the law stipulates that if a political party does not hold intra-party elections, then it would not be eligible for an election symbol.”
“A political party (which had itself voted in this law) did not hold the mandated intra-party elections,” it continued. “The Supreme Court reiterated what the law stipulated ... Therefore, you Excellency’s criticism with regard to this decision, with utmost respect, was unjustified.”
The letter written on the instructions of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa noted that the proceedings of the hearing were live televised for the public.
It also highlighted other steps taken by the top court to strengthen democracy in the country and make the national and provincial elections possible earlier this year.
The Supreme Court registrar also maintained that Britain had also made several mistakes in the past which had led to unbearable suffering to people in different parts of the world. It specifically mentioned the overthrow of Iran’s Mohammad Mossadegh’s government in 1953 and the adoption of the Belfour Declarations that led to the creation of Israel.
It maintained the Supreme Court had acknowledged its past mistakes, adding this should also be done with the British government.
“Let us all stand up and be counted for equality, peace and humanity,” it continued.