The Peshawar High Court (PHC) cancel the stay order issued by its single-member bench, restoring the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to nullify the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) intra-party polls and strip the party of its election symbol, the bat.
Justice Ejaz Khan, heading the single-member bench, delivered the reserved verdict on the matter, which had been under consideration throughout the day. The ECP’s lawyer, Sikander Bashir Mohmand, and PTI’s legal representatives, Advocates Shah Faisal Uthmankhel and Qazi Anwar, were present during the proceedings.
The ECP had filed a review petition against the PHC’s December 26 decision that temporarily suspended the ECP’s order and reinstated the ‘bat’ symbol for PTI until a final resolution was reached.
The ECP, in its initial order, had deemed PTI’s intra-party polls as “illegal” and revoked the party’s right to use the ‘bat’ symbol, prompting PTI to approach the PHC to regain its party symbol ahead of the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8.
During the hearing, Advocate Anwar, representing PTI, emphasized the party’s commitment to free and fair elections and questioned the ECP’s authority to challenge the high court’s ruling. Justice Khan reminded both parties that legal matters should be addressed within the court, regardless of external statements made by political entities.
The court, after hearing arguments from both sides, reserved its verdict on the case. The decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle over PTI’s intra-party elections and its election symbol.
