ECP to challenge Peshawar High Court verdict on PTI election symbol

• Decides against appealing directly to Supreme Court
• Amends poll schedule after extending scrutiny of nomination papers for reserved seats
ISLAMABAD: After three days of deliberations, the Election Commission decided on Friday to contest the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision to reinstate the PTI’s election symbol.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) initially considered appealing directly to the Supreme Court but decided on a review petition with the Peshawar High Court (PHC) regarding a case involving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The PHC is set to revisit the case on Jan 9. The ECP has not fully complied with the PHC’s directives, such as publishing PTI’s intra-party elections certificate and reinstating the party’s election symbol. The ECP has amended the schedule for candidates on reserved seats, extending the scrutiny deadline to Jan 13, pending the PHC’s decision. Jan 13 is also the last day for allocating election symbols, crucial for reserved seats. The ECP has made changes to judicial appointments related to the case. The legal dispute arose from the ECP’s initial finding of PTI’s ineligibility for an election symbol due to non-compliance with party constitution and electoral laws. The PTI called it a “London Plan” to hinder their election participation. The PHC temporarily suspended the ECP’s decision, emphasizing the urgency and political implications, ordering the publication of PTI’s certificate and restoration of the election symbol. The general elections are scheduled for Feb 8.