PTI stripped of iconic ‘Bat’

ISLAMABAD:

In a big blow to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ahead of the February 8 general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday nullified the intra-party elections of the former ruling party, taking back the party's famous "cricket bat" symbol.

The reserved verdict was announced by a five-member ECP bench — headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

The decision came hours after PTI representatives met with the ECP officials following a Supreme Court order to remove the party's reservations regarding the lack of a level playing field.

“So keeping in view, the clear mandate of Elections Act, 2017 read with PTI constitution 2019, it is held that PTI has not complied with our directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November, 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution, 2019 and Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017,” the ECP’s written order, available with The Express Tribune, stated.

“Therefore, the certificate dated 4th December, 2023 and Form-65 filed by the alleged Chairman, is hereby regretted and rejected accordingly. The provisions of Section 215 of the Election Act, 2017 are hereby invoked and PTI is hereby declared ineligible to obtain, the Election Symbol, for which they have applied for.”

The development came a day after the Peshawar High Court ordered the ECP to settle the issues of the PTI’s intra-party polls and its electoral symbol by Friday.

The PTI had also asked the PHC to direct the ECP to publish the results of its internal elections on the commission’s website – a step required by the party to contest the next general polls.

In the intra-party elections held earlier this month on the ECP’s order, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected the PTI’s new chairman.

Gohar was nominated by Imran Khan -- the PTI’s founding chairman, who was currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi's Adiala jail.

However, PTI founding member Akbar S Babar, who later developed differences with its leadership, challenged the party's intra-party polls.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, he requested that the PTI should not be allowed to use the ‘cricket bat’ as its electoral symbol until it held transparent intra-party polls.

He also asked the commission to appoint an independent third-party monitor to conduct the PTI’s fresh intra-party polls.

Babar further contended that the PTI had not disclosed the rules and regulations of the intra-party polls; their schedule and procedure; and the time for the submission of nomination papers.

Read more: ECP told to decide PTI internal polls by today

On Monday, the ECP had reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the intra-party polls of PTI.

A day later on Tuesday, the commission also reserved its judgment over the allotment of the electoral symbol of the 'cricket bat' to the PTI.

‘London Plan’

Meanwhile, the PTI termed the move another part of the “London plan”. “Ladla [Nawaz] Sharif cannot compete on the ground, he knows he stands no chance to win when the voters are Pakistanis,” the party wrote on its X handle.

“This yet another part of the famous London Plan, a disgusting and shameful attempt to stop PTI from election.”

PTI has long used the cricket bat as a symbol, and in a nation where the adult literacy rate is just 58 per cent, according to World Bank data, icons are vital to identify parties on ballot papers.

A PTI lawyer said they would challenge the decision, which comes just seven weeks before polling day.

The party denounced the ECP’s ruling as deeply flawed, illegal, biased, and an assault on the integrity of the electoral process.

PTI strongly condemned what it called an attempt to undermine the country's constitution, democratic values, and the transparency integral to fair elections through its recent decision.

The spokesperson said that the ECP is a key facilitator in the ongoing scandalous deviation from the country's constitutional norms.