Today, PTI faces a setback as the Peshawar High Court (PHC) has upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision from December 22. This ruling deems PTI’s internal party polls as “unconstitutional” and strips the party of its iconic ‘bat’ symbol used in elections.
Justice Ejaz Khan, who had reserved the decision earlier, announced it after reviewing the ECP’s petitions. This ruling is a setback for PTI, as they claim they are not getting a fair chance in the upcoming general election.
If a party cannot get a symbol through legal means, their candidate
s have to run as independents for national and provincial seats. This makes it impossible for them to join the PTI later, even if they win. The PTI plans to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court.
The ECP had earlier decided not to let PTI keep its symbol for the February 8 election. They argued that PTI didn’t follow its constitution and election laws during the intra-party polls on December 22.
PTI went to the PHC, which suspended the ECP’s decision on December 26. The PHC mentioned that the general elections were on February 8, and the last date for symbols was January 13.
The ECP then filed a review petition, claiming the PHC had overstepped its jurisdiction. The PHC has now recalled its decision, stating that it was granted without giving the ECP a chance to be heard.
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PTI plans to go to the Supreme Court against this decision. Barrister Gohar Khan, speaking for PTI, emphasized that losing the ‘bat’ symbol raises questions about the election’s legitimacy. He urged the Supreme Court to listen to their case.
Experts say this is a significant setback for PTI, and the case might end up in the Supreme Court. Pildat President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob criticized PTI for haste in conducting intra-party polls, saying a proper process could have avoided this situation.
The court hearing involved arguments about the ECP’s authority, the rejection of PTI candidates’ nomination papers, and accusations of conspiracy against PTI by other parties. The court reserved its verdict after listening to both sides.
