ECP denies ‘Bat’ offer amid Khattak’s claims

Khattak stirs political pot by claiming PTI's iconic 'Bat' was offered to him ahead of polls

ISLAMABAD:

In a strange twist, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday faced conflicting assertions after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarian (PTI-P) chief Pervez Khattak stirred the political pot by alleging he had been "offered" the symbol ahead of the upcoming elections.

The claims raised alarms among observers and the supporters of the PTI, speculating that the ECP's action to withdraw the symbol – amid concerns that the party was being limped by ‘manipulation’ – suggested a potential handover to the splinter group.

However, the ECP swiftly countered these claims, with a spokesperson clarifying that no such symbol had been offered by the commission to Khattak or anyone else.

The controversy followed hot on the heels of the ECP's recent ruling declaring the PTI’s intra-party polls as "unconstitutional" and subsequently revoking their rights to the iconic electoral symbol.

Political analysts and politicians have also raised eyebrows over the microscopic scrutiny of the PTI ahead of the polls, pointing out that such moves could risk rendering the elections controversial amid PTI’s clamour for level playing field.Meanwhile, the PTI has termed the move another part of the “London plan”.

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.

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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.

Addressing media representatives in Peshawar on Monday, Khattak, formerly a close confidant of PTI's founder Imran Khan, mentioned refusing the offer to take his previous party's electoral symbol.

Nevertheless, he refrained from divulging specifics about who made the purported offer.

Responding to Khattak's statements, the ECP denied the claims, reiterating that neither the PTI-P chief nor any other entity had been offered the "bat" symbol.

Khattak, a former defence minister, parted ways with the PTI following the May 9 riots, triggered by Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case, which resulted in widespread vandalism of numerous military installations nationwide.

The schism led Khattak to establish his own political party separate from the PTI.

The ECP’s last week decision to strip the PTI of its electoral symbol had come hours after PTI representatives met with the commission officials following a Supreme Court order to remove the party's reservations regarding the lack of a level playing field.