PTI moves PHC against ECP order today

Party to file writ petition against polls oversight authority’s Dec 22 order

PESHAWAR:

The PTI is set to approach the Peshawar High Court (PHC) today, challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to invalidate its intra-party polls.

Shah Faisal Utmankhel, the senior vice president of the Insaf Lawyers Forum, confirmed the PTI's filing of a writ petition in the PHC on Tuesday, Dec 26, against the ECP’s December 22 order.

The decision to contest the ECP's ruling arose from a meeting between the PTI founder, Imran Khan, currently detained, and Gohar Ali Khan, who elected as the PTI chairman in the December 2 party polls.

Legal experts highlight the PTI’s struggle in issuing party tickets due to the ECP’s order. Additionally, if the decision persists, PTI might lose the opportunity to nominate candidates for reserved positions.

The PTI recently declared its intention to challenge the ECP’s ruling in both the Supreme Court and the PHC. Gohar Ali Khan expressed disappointment in the ECP's verdict, citing flaws in the ruling.

On December 22, a five-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, invalidated PTI’s intra-party elections, stripping the former ruling party of its iconic cricket bat electoral symbol.

Read also: PTI to mount court challenge to ECP ruling on intra-party polls

This decision was announced after PTI representatives met with ECP officials, expressing concerns about an unfair playing field ahead of the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8.

Despite his disappointment with the ECP's decision, Gohar Ali Khan said he remained hopeful for justice from the court. He instructed candidates to submit their nomination papers and assured that the party has contingency plans, intending to pursue legal recourse if needed.

The PTI conducted intra-party elections earlier this month to comply with an ECP requirement for retaining the party’s electoral symbol.

Gohar Ali Khan, nominated by Imran Khan, emerged as the new chairman. However, a founding PTI member, Akbar S Babar, contested the elections in the ECP, labelling them as a façade.

On December 22, the ECP nullified the PTI elections, citing the party's non-compliance with directives and failure to conduct intra-party elections in accordance with PTI’s constitution and election regulations.