The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has commenced hearing the PTI’s petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s declaration of its intra-party polls as unconstitutional and the revocation of the “bat” symbol filed earlier today.
Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel is conducting the hearing.
The submission of the plea comes after the electoral watchdog last week voided, for the second time in under than a month, PTI’s internal elections in which Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected as the party’s new chairman.
ECP deems PTI ineligible for an election symbol, citing non-compliance with intra-party election regulations. PTI challenges the decision, alleging lack of legal authority and jurisdiction. PTI asserts the decision is part of the “famous London Plan” and vows to appeal at every forum. PTI claims it will contest elections with the ‘bat’ symbol, irrespective of the ECP’s ruling. PTI counsel Ali Zafar highlights the absence of the customary certificate on the ECP website. PTI urges the court to order ECP to publish intra-party poll results and restore the party’s symbol. PTI’s Gohar emphasizes the broader impact on reserved seats and alleges denial of a level playing field.
‘Bat’ symbol not allotted to someone else: ECP
Meanwhile, the ECP in a post on social media platform X on Monday said that it did not offer the ‘bat’ electoral symbol to anyone else, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Parliamentarians Chairman Pervez Khattak.
Yesterday, Khattak, the leader of his own faction of the PTI, in a talk with the media, stirred controversy by claiming that the bat symbol was “offered” to him. He did not specify by whom.
Experts criticize both PTI and ECP, citing contradictory behavior. Pildat head Ahmed Bilal Mehboob notes PTI’s lack of care in conducting intra-party polls, citing deviation from a well-detailed procedure followed in 2012. He criticizes ECP for not treating all parties impartially and highlights lapses in addressing Senator Bugti’s induction into the caretaker cabinet while still being a BAP member. The overall critique is on PTI’s handling of intra-party elections and ECP’s uneven treatment of political parties.